asked the Minister for Agriculture if he is aware of the anomaly in the new farm investment aid scheme which debars applicants, who had not completed their development programme under the farm modernisation scheme, from qualifying.
Written Answers. - Farm Investment Aid Scheme.
194.
The completion of a development plan taken out under the farm modernisation scheme is one of the main conditions of Directive EC 72/159 on which the scheme was based. Failure to complete a development plan would result in the development farmer losing entitlement to grant aid under the plan and make him liable to repay any grants already received. Any EC moneys received for investments carried out under the plan would also have to be refunded by the State.
Investment included in a development plan will, of course, remain eligible for grant aid for the duration of the plan.