Parliamentary Question No.96
To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food the number of applications for the farm waste management scheme which are awaiting processing; when he expects his Department to pay the outstanding grants; the budget available for same; and if he will make a statement on the matter.- David Stanton.
For ORAL answer on Wednesday, 11th February, 2009. Ref No: 5049/09 Lottery: 40 Proof: 35
REPLY
The Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food: (Brendan Smith)
The deadline for completion of work and the submission of claims for grant payment under the Farm Waste Management Scheme expired on 31 December 2008 although applicants were permitted to submit certain supporting documentation up to 9 January 2009. Almost 17,400 payment claims remain to be processed to payment stage under the Scheme in 2009. The Book of Estimates provides €125 million for the Scheme in 2009.
Last week, the Government took a number of decisions on the overall Expenditure Control and Economic Strategy that included the funding for the Farm Waste Management Scheme and arrangements for payment of grant aid on a phased basis. My Department is in discussion with the Department of Finance on the implications for the Department’s Vote and the details that will be published in the Revised Estimates Volume next month.