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Major Improvements in Farm Waste Management Scheme
Mr Brendan Smith T.D., Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture and Food today set out an outline of a proposed revised Farm Waste Management Scheme to be introduced as soon as possible. The revised scheme is specifically intended to assist farmers meet new requirements under the Nitrates Directive. This coincides with the submission to the EU Commission of the National Action Programme for implementation of the Nitrates Directive in Ireland.
Minister Smith said that the main elements in the proposed revised scheme will be as follows:
- Increase the current main Waste Management grant rate from 40% to 60% for approved works, with 70% available for Zone C counties
- 10% top-up for young farmers in disadvantaged areas and 5% in other areas of the country
- Increase the overall individual maximum investment ceilings
- Remove the current 20 minimum income unit subject to independent certification of economic viability
- Extension of the scheme to the pig and poultry sectors.
“We will be pressing for early acceptance of the revised scheme by the EU Commission and following final approval of the Minister for Finance, its introduction at an early date. This is with a view to the earliest commencement of the work and its completion before the end of 2008 in line with the requirements of the Action Programme” Minister Smith said.
As soon as the revised scheme is approved by the EU Commission, the necessary application forms will be made available. In the meantime farmers should consider what additional Farm Waste Management investment is required on their farms to meet the requirements of the National Action Programme. They should also begin the process of seeking the necessary planning approval for any proposed works. However, grant aid under the revised scheme will, as with the existing scheme, only be paid where prior written approval has been given by the Department. Any works undertaken prior to this approval will not be eligible for grant aid.
Minister Smith said he was grateful that the Minister for Finance had agreed to proceed with the new scheme without delay to allow work get underway as soon as possible.
Concluding, Minister Smith said that the new grant aid package will help farmers meet their requirements under the Nitrates Directive and he confirmed that initial discussions with the Commission had already commenced on the derogation from the 170Kg/hectare organic nitrogen limit.
