Wallace welcomes farm waste ex-gratia payment

9th March 2009

Meath East TD Mary Wallace welcomes the announcement by Agriculture, Fisheries and Food Minister Mr Brendan Smith of a special ex-gratia payment to farmers whose farm waste management grants have been partially deferred to 2010 and 2011.

The additional payment, not exceeding 3.5%, will be paid on the value of the second and third instalments, i.e. 60% of the total grant. This additional payment will be paid to farmers with the final 20% instalment in January 2011.

Minister Smith has also confirmed that almost 6,000 claims have been approved and payment of the first 40 per cent of these claims will commence next week

Minister Wallace stated “I understand the Dept of Agriculture will be writing to every farmer who has applied for a grant very shortly advising of the payment arrangements and, at the time of the payment of this first instalment, a further letter will be issued committing the Department to the payment of the second 40% in January 2010 and the remaining 20% instalment in January 2011”.

The decision to make this additional payment is a very significant decision and fully reflects the Government’s commitment to the scheme and will be welcome news to many farmers in Meath.  The Government’s contribution to the scheme will be of the order of €1.1 billion, of which 90 per cent will have been paid by January 2010” Minister Wallace concluded.