Gerard Murphy
Ceist:149 Mr. Murphy asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food when he will be announcing the changes promised in the operation of the dairy-hygiene investment scheme for farmers. [24541/03]
Written Answers. - Departmental Schemes.
The changes to the dairy hygiene scheme proposed in the Sustaining Progress agreement require EU Commission approval prior to implementation. My Department has already written to the EU Commission signalling the changes it is proposed to make to the scheme and its desire to implement these as soon as possible.
The scheme forms part of the regional operational programmes of the national development plan. The monitoring committees of these programmes are considering the proposed changes at present. Formal Commission consideration of the changes will follow the committees' examination.