asked the Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries the number of applications approved under the farm modernisation scheme in County Monaghan and the number in each category, development, commercial and transitional.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Farm Modernisation Scheme.
105.
At the end of November, 392 applicants in the county had been classified, of these, 47 were deemed to be in the development category and the remainder were in the transitional category.
What is the reason for the delay in the payment of grants?
That is a separate question.
There should be no delay in the payment of grants where farmers are classified but, even where they are not classified if the work is completed they should be able to get the low level of grants anyway without delay.
106.
asked the Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries the amount paid out in grants to date under the farm modernisation scheme.
Capital grant payments to farmers for work completed this year will be made mainly under the former land project, farm buildings and water supplies schemes which are now incorporated in the farm modernisation scheme. Total payments under those schemes since 1st February last, when the new scheme was introduced, amount to £6,577,000 as compared with £6,112,000 in the same period last year. Payments for works recently completed under the new scheme are now proceeding.
Has this amount been paid at the lower rate under the new farm modernisation scheme to people who had applied before this scheme came into operation?
Most of these payments were under the old scheme.
But the applications had been made before the new scheme came into operation.
The total amount paid this year is somewhat higher than that paid in the same period last year.
Can the Minister say how much has been paid under the new scheme? He informed us the other day that it is the lower rate that is being paid.
My information is that only a small amount has been paid under the new scheme because that scheme has only come into operation.
Would the Minister ensure that these payments at the lower rate will be made quickly so as to give confidence to the people concerned?
Yes.
Would the Minister not agree that up to the last week or so no grants were being paid under the farm modernisation scheme for farm improvements?
The applications could not have been processed. We know the difficulties that existed earlier.
Regarding the delay since 1st February, would the Minister not appreciate the amount of expense that has been incurred in the meantime by people who had applied, especially by those engaging in the construction of silage lay-out, the cost of which in most cases would have been paid for in cash?
Are we talking of applications made before or after 1st February?
I am referring to applications made since then.
If the work has been completed there should be no difficulty in so far as the payments at the lower level are concerned and in cases where farmers are classified they should get the full amount.
Would the higher level of grants have been paid since 1st February.
Yes, in cases where the farmers were classified. There should be no delay but if the Deputy knows of any cases where delays have occurred, I would be glad to hear from him in this regard.
I am aware of such cases.
Question No. 107 postponed.