asked the Minister for Agriculture the number of farmers in County Laois who have been refused grants under the farm modernisation scheme because they had not received written approval before commencing work; and if he will now amend the regulations to enable the grants to be paid.
Written Answers. - Grant Payments.
379.
Ninety-eight applicants in County Laois have been notified that applications for grant aid for buildings and fixed assets, on hands on 9 February 1983 when grants for such works were suspended, would not be processed further.
Information is not available to me on the number of those applicants who are ineligible for aid for the same projects under the revised scheme. Investments carried out without the prior written approval of the farm development service are not eligible for grant aid.
380.
Mr. Cowen
asked the Minister for Agriculture the amount of grants paid to applicants from County Offaly under the farm modernisation scheme in 1981, 1982 and 1983.
The grant-aid paid to farm modernisation scheme participants in County Offaly in 1981, 1982 and 1983 was £1.177 million, £1.038 million and £0.625 million, respectively.
381.
asked the Minister for Agriculture when a water drainage and farm development scheme grant will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Cavan.
The grant of £4,839 under the western drainage scheme was paid recently. The farm modernisation scheme grant of £491 was paid on 18 November 1983.
382.
asked the Minister for Agriculture when a grant in respect of farm buildings under the farm modernisation scheme will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Wexford.
As approval had not issued in this case before the suspension of grant aid for farm buildings and fixed assets came into effect on 10 February 1983, the application was not processed and the applicant was notified that grant aid would not be available for any investment undertaken during the period of suspension. It is understood that the building work in question has been carried out and it will not therefore qualify for aid under the terms of the recently introduced revised scheme.