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Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 29 Jun 1993

Vol. 433 No. 1

Written Answers. - Agriculture Schemes Forms.

Jim O'Keeffe

Question:

57 Mr. J. O'Keeffe asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry the number of different forms available from his Department for different schemes and grants; and the training that is available to farmers to enable them to cope with them.

My Department operates a large number of schemes for farmers and about 80 forms are involved. In the main the forms are straightforward and assistance is generally available as a matter of course at local level from my Department or Teagasc staff.

I fully accept that the Common Agricultural Policy Reform premium schemes are relatively complex and that some farmers may have some difficulties in coming to terms with some elements of the schemes. It was for this reason that my Department and Teagasc organised a series of public information meetings to explain the new arrangements to farmers. Over 800 meetings have been held at regional and local level throughout the country with farmer attendances close on 90,000. Two information booklets were widely distributed. Teagasc have also set up Common Agricultural Policy consultancy service involving clinics and one-to-one assistance for form filling.
It is my policy to ensure that forms are as simple as possible and that farmers are not penalised because of genuine mistakes.
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