€250m waste scheme for farmers

IRELAND - A new multi-million-euro waste-management scheme designed to help farmers adjust to the environmental conditions required by the European Union nitrates directive was announced at the weekend by Agriculture and Food Minister Mary Coughlan.

The announcement followed European Commission approval of the wide-ranging scheme, which Ms Coughlan described as an exciting and forward-looking Government measure.

Irish Creamery Milk Suppliers Association’s farm services committee chairman Conor Creedon welcomed the scheme and said it would finally allow farmers to invest for the future.

Ms Coughlan said the scheme represents a major financial contribution by the Government to modernising Irish agriculture and to helping farmers meet new standards required by the nitrates directive.

The demand-led scheme has a projection of up to €250 million over the next three years. Some €42m is provided in her department estimates for this year. EU co-funding of this expenditure will be up to 40%.

Source: Irish Examiner

27 March 2006