asked the Minister for Agriculture if he is aware of cases where his Department is seeking to obtain a refund of payments made under the previous interest subsidy rescue package scheme; if he agrees that such decisions may impose individual hardship; and if he will consider allowing those who were approved to remain approved: and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Written Answers. - Reduced Interest Scheme.
184.
The reduced interest scheme for farmers in severe financial difficulty was administered by the Associated Banks and the ACC, who also had responsibility for assessing the eligibility of individual applicants. The administration of the scheme by the lending institutions is subject to audit by my Department and no State contribution is payable to the lending institutions in respect of cases found to have been improperly admitted to the scheme. In such instances, where the State contribution has already been paid it must be refunded by the lending institution. It is a matter for the lending institutions to decide whether to seek refunds from the disallowed applicants concerned.