The National Scheme for the Control of Farmyard Pollution has been approved by the European Commission and will be implemented from Monday next, the Department of Agriculture and Food announced yesterday.
The original scheme, under which farmers were paid £131 million, was suspended in April 1995 when the Government ran out of matching funds to carry out the works.
The new scheme will provide grant aid at the rate of 40 per cent in less favoured areas and 35 per cent in other areas, subject to a grant ceiling of £10,000.
Welcoming the reintroduction of the scheme, the Minister for Agriculture said costings for the work done were being revised and increased by 12 per cent, more accurately reflecting the real costs of the investment undertaken by farmers.
However, last night the Irish Farmers' Association said the scheme would be of little value to farmers this year as it came too late and was hampered by red tape.