658. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when funding will be released to participants under the Farming for Water EIP including a person ( details supplied ); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49424/26]

The 5-year budget for the Farming for Water (FFW) European Innovation Partnership (EIP) project is €60 million, with €50 million provided by my Department for farmer payments under the CSP, and €10 million provided by the Department of Housing, Local Government & Heritage for the administration of the project. Both Departments provide ongoing directional input to the project via the Strategic Oversight Committee.

The FFW EIP is delivered by an Operational Group led by LAWPRO (the Local Authorities Water Programme), which includes Teagasc, Dairy Industry Ireland and other stakeholders, including Bórd Bia.

Approvals for applications, verification of measures taken, processing and approval of individual farmer payments for the FFW EIP are made by LAWPRO's administration staff and catchment scientists. Payment checks are conducted by my Department.

The person named is a participant in the FFW EIP. The application will be processed for payment once all the required checks have been completed. These checks are conducted in detail for each farmer payment.