asked the Minister for Agriculture when he will pay grants under the winter fodder scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Winter Fodder Grants.
8.
The total number of applicants under the winter fodder scheme 1985 was approximately 58,000. There were 24,000 applicants for the nitrogen subsidy and 34,000 for the silage subsidy. The bulk of applicants under the nitrogen scheme have now been paid subsidy. In the case of silage, over 9,000 applicants have been paid. Processing of the remainder is in progress and payments will be made as quickly as possible.
Will the Minister not agree that there was unnecessary delay in payment under the schemes and that the entire operation was quite chaotic throughout the country? Will he assure us that any appeals under the schemes will be given speedy and sympathetic consideration?
I think the Deputy is somewhat confused.
The confusion lies with the Department of Agriculture.
I think there was a certain confusion in the Deputy's supplementary question. I am talking here about the fodder scheme as distinct from the feed scheme. Under the fodder scheme the number of applications was 58,000 and under the feed scheme the number of applications was 90,000 of which 78,000 were successful. The Deputy may be mixing up the two schemes. The number of applicants for the nitrogen and the silage schemes was in excess of anything we anticipated. When the silage scheme first operated some 8,000 applications were received and this was at a time when agriculture was at a less developed stage. On this occasion there were 34,000 applications and the Deputy will appreciate the enormity of the task of vetting all the applications. I am glad to say that the scheme has been most successful and has done much good where there were problems with regard to fodder.
What precautions are the Minister and his Department taking to ensure that silage will continue to be made on the few farms that have qualified for grants?
In a democracy it is not possible to dictate to people to make silage. All we can do is to encourage people. Within the next week we will announce a new scheme that will give a considerable incentive to people to continue making silage or to get into that sector.
While the two schemes are separate an anomaly has appeared recently. Up to now the criterion used with regard to the feed scheme was quantity but now when they want to use the silage people find that the quality of the grass is bad because additives may not have been used and it is practically useless. These people have been denied feed vouchers because the farm development officers are interested only in quantity, not quality.
I have considerable sympathy with the point made by the Deputy and with the people affected. I had a number of people at my clinics at the weekend who told me that the silage had not developed properly and was not fit for consumption by cattle. Certainly I will review those cases.
It is completely useless.
There has been considerable confusion in relation to the feed scheme and a number of people did not submit applications in time. I ask the Minister to treat these applications sympathetically. There are many deserving cases where people, for one reason or another, did not apply in time. There has been a certain confusion in the public mind with regard to the scheme. The problem in relation to fodder prices will hit farmers at the end of March or in April. I ask the Minister to consider allowing late applications for the feed scheme.
This matter arises in Questions Nos. 11, 13 and 14.
Perhaps we should wait until we reach those questions.
The Minister told us that there were 24,000 applications for the nitrogen scheme. I wish to know how many of those applications were approved. Also, how many of the 34,000 applications for the silage subsidy were passed?
Of the 24,000 for the nitrogen subsidy scheme, 17,000 applicants were paid in 1985. Approximately 7,000 applications remain to be processed and it is hoped to pay them in the very near future.
There were no rejections?
It would be rather exceptional if there were not some rejections.