asked the Minister for Agriculture whether he is aware that a number of farmers in South Kerry found that their farm buildings had fallen into such a bad state of disrepair that they were compelled to proceed immediately with their repair before he announced the operative date of his scheme for the improvement of farm buildings; and if, in view of the honest attempt on the part of these men to keep their buildings in a proper state of repair, he will allow them to make application for and obtain retrospective benefit under the existing scheme sponsored by his Department.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Farm Buildings Improvement.
I am not aware of the circumstances referred to by the Deputy. I would like to point out, however, that grants are not paid for repairs under the farm buildings scheme unless the repairs conform to approved specifications drawn up so as to ensure that a good job is carried out in each case. I cannot see my way, therefore, to alter the condition of the scheme which requires that applicants for grants must obtain written authority before commencing any work for which a grant is sought. It would be quite impossible to work the scheme otherwise.
Is the Minister aware that, owing to statements made by the previous Minister and himself in regard to farm buildings schemes, the people were somewhat confused? As a matter of urgency, in the cases I am referring to the farmers commenced operations on these farm buildings before the appointed day, which I understand was 1st April of this year. Is he further aware that the farmers concerned carried out improvements in accordance with the plans and specifications of the Department and these farmers are now debarred from availing of this scheme simply because they commenced the work before 1st April?
The Deputy is making a good speech.
I am merely asking the Minister, in view of these circumstances, if he could see his way to allow these farmers to come under the scheme.
I fully sympathise with the people who are so circumstanced as the Deputy has indicated, but I would like to point out that I tried to make as express a declaration in regard to this matter on the 24th June of last year as I was able to draft. While I know some men may have anticipated and gone ahead, the difficulty is that, were an exception to be made in a single case, thousands of applications of equal merit would at once be presented. I can assure the Deputy it is not for the want of the will, but for the want of the way that I am unable to meet the case to which he has referred.