asked the Minister for Agriculture whether any channel or appeal is open to those refused under the feed voucher scheme on the grounds that their silage is estimated to be over 75 per cent of their requirements, when it subsequently transpires that this silage is of poor quality; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Written Answers. - Feed Voucher Scheme.
140.
Mr. Coughlan
As indicated in reply to a question on 22 January it has not been possible to take account of the quality of fodder in the assessment of the fodder deficiency of individual applicants as this would have necessitated on-farm inspections of some 80,000 applicants. However, in calculating individual allocations a generous allowance has been made for the generally poorer feeding quality of fodder.
Assessment of fodder deficiency under the scheme is based on the particulars of the quantity of fodder and the livestock numbers given by applicants themselves and appeals can only be considered on the basis of these particulars and the conditions of the scheme.