Waste management grants revised

THE introduction of revised standard costings to calculate the grant levels under the revised farm waste management scheme has been welcomed by farm leaders.

Agriculture Minister Mary Coughlan, who announced the move last week, has also backdated the revised costings to all approvals issued under the current and previous versions of the scheme since January 1 this year.

She urged those who need to carry out work to comply with the nitrates directive to participate in the scheme before it closes at the end of this year.

The minister said the revised farm waste management scheme, introduced in March, has been a big success. Over 6,500 applications have already been received.

ICMSA Farm Services and Environment Committee chairman Conor Creedon welcomed the minister’s decision but said the Charter of Rights for Farmers must be honoured from now on.

This agreement states that the standard costings will be updated annually from January and where certain costs increase significantly throughout the year the revision will be carried out twice in that year.

IFA Rural Development chairman Padraic Divilly, who also welcomed the decision, said using September 2004 standard costings could have reduced the grant aid available from 60% to about 45%.

Mr Divilly hoped the revisions would now take into account the increases that have occurred in the last two years. He also looked forward to the next revision in January 2007.