asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food if his attention has been drawn to the fact that headage application forms were received from his Department by farmers in some areas only on the date by which they have to be returned completed; and in a number of cases not until after that deadline; and in view of this, if he will extend the date for the return of forms to his Department.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Headage Grants.
18.
As already indicated in my reply to a question from Deputy O'Keeffe on 21 June, I have extended the closing date for the return of these forms by a week to facilitate those farmers who, because of postal delays, did not receive them in time.
Despite the extension given, is the Minister aware that some farmers have still found it impossible to submit their applications even within the extended time? Would he give special consideration to farmers in areas where it is known that the forms did not arrive until after the original day for which applications should have been submitted?
I am aware that there are special circumstances of the kind mentioned by Deputy Nealon and, of course, I would have to take them into account but, as Deputy Nealon knows, we have to comply with EC regulations and we have to notify the EC because they pay a major part of this headage payment. Where there are special circumstances of the kind he has mentioned I will look at them sympathetically. Nevertheless, I want to enter a caveat that my word is not the end and I would urge Deputies to encourage farmers not to look for special exemptions but if there are special circumstances we will look at them sympathetically.
Would the Minister agree that ten days, the length of time originally proposed for the forms to go out from Dublin, be completed and returned, was ill-conceived and ill-advised and was the root of the problem? In future the Minister should consider a period longer than ten days so that there will not be any problems.
There is always a problem when one introduces something which was not there already, as I did in this case. I have to get sanction from the EC and as the delay in this case was in relation to the headage application forms I have to get approval before I can launch the scheme. I hope I have demonstrated a degree of flexibility in extending the date and I have indicated my general attitude to Deputy Nealon.
Deputy Brendan Griffin, a final question please.
Would the Minister not agree that it is totally unreasonable to expect farmers to complete and application form within the week or ten days that was originally allocated?
I do not know but I think they should be able to do so.