Grant scheme being finalised

By Joanne Fox

21 April 07 : Grant aid for slurry tankers for the duration of the current Rural Development Plan and the doubling of some existing farm technology grants still have to be agreed before the new Farm Improvement Scheme is finalised.

Nevertheless, parties to the negotiations expect the outstanding issues to be resolved speedily with the new FIS scheme launched immediately afterwards.

At the moment aid is only available for slurry tankers for applications received up to the end of this year and the payment will only be given up to the end of 2008. "Grant aid must be available on these slurry tankards for the full duration of the Rural Development Plan,'' IFA's Gerry Gunning said this week.

The need to review the level of aid available across the scheme at regular intervals has also to be resolved.

The Department's Standard Costings determine the amount of money received in grant aid and their costings should be reviewed at six monthly intervals or when there is a significant increase in materials and labour,'' Gunning added.

The IFA are looking for a doubling of the grant aid for electric/computer controlled calf feeding systems to 40% in the new FIS and 40% grant for underpasses and internal roads - neither of which is currently grant aided under the FIS.

The IFA has also proposed that the partnership investment limit is increased by a multiple of the number of partners, for example, €240,000 in the case of two partners.

Discussion

Sheep handling units, including mobile units and weighing facilities and sheep fencing, internal and perimeter, are all still under discussion and it is hoped that a grant rate of 40% will apply in the case of each of these items.

New items eligible for grant aid in the new FIS include are meal bins, meal stores and grain silos.

Also down for final consideration in terms of aid are rubber mats where the IFA want the grant aid to apply to both the cost of the rubber plus installation costs including farmer's own labour.