Farm waste grants to be paid
He was addressing a Dáil debate on a Fine Gael motion seeking an extension of the Farm Waste Management Scheme deadline.
Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs Minister Éamon Ó Cuív told the Dáil that by the end of this week, the department will have issued payments in respect of all approved payment claims up to and including Friday, October 10. “The payments will be kept up to date now that the supplementary estimate has been made available,” he said.
He rejected an ICMSA proposal that a legally binding contract between farmers and the department to complete all work under the scheme would meet State aid requirements and allow for an extension of the deadline.
“In correspondence, the commission stated the applicable state aid rules appear to deny such an extension. It also pointed out that the deadline granted was an exceptional one, taking account of Ireland’s specific situation,” said Mr Ó Cuív.
He rejected TDs’ suggestions that between 10,000 and 12,000 farmers could not complete works in time. He said only about 80% complete most grant aided schemes, and 80% of the 42,500 Farm Waste approvals was about 34,000. “To date, 31,000 farmers have confirmed they have started work. We must encourage the remaining 3,000 farmers who were likely to complete the work in any case to complete it by the deadline,” said Mr Ó Cuív. “By creating false expectations that there may be an extension, some people may hold back.”
“I encourage those farmers who are anxious to proceed with their works to get them completed and draw down the grant. The moneys are in place to pay any farmer who complies with the scheme by 31 December 2008.”
The department has written to all grant approval holders clarifying that it will grant-aid particular discrete elements of farm waste projects if some farmers are unable to proceed with the full project for which they have approval. During the Dáil debate, Mr Smith said he understood that it is possible to carry out part of a farm waste project.
nNo grant payment will be made on structures that are only partially completed — for example, those not having a floor, a roof or barriers. Grant aid will only be paid for structures completed by the end of the year to the required minimum.
Where items such as scrapers, sliding doors, venting, cladding, are not completed the structure as completed will be grant aided less the items not undertaken.
