Edward Nealon
Question:381 Mr. Nealon asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry if his attention has been drawn to the fact that arising out of ministerial order, the transfer of clerical assistants from farm development service offices to livestock offices in all centres where there are both farm development service offices and livestock offices has resulted in the farm development offices now being unable to fully and finally process grant applications; if his attention has further been drawn to the fact that this is causing financial difficulties to many farmers who have been involved in major expenditure on farm buildings and other projects; and that it is also causing great inconvenience for farmers who now find that farm development offices are closed when personnel are carrying out inspections and that phones are not being answered for the same reason; the action, if any, he will take to resolve the situation and the emergency measures, if any, he proposes to expedite the overdue payments to farmers; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
