Grant aid to upgrade quality of sow housing

THE upgrading and converting of sow housing to comply with new animal welfare standards will be grant aided to the tune of 40% of investments up to €300,000 by the Department of Agriculture and Food.

Launching the €13m Animal Welfare Scheme (sow housing), Minister Mary Coughlan said it is open to farmers with at least 60 income units from pig production.

Grant aid will also be available for preparation of Environmental Impact Assessments and Environmental Impact Statements, as required. This Scheme will close for applications on December 31, 2006.