Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 20 Jun 1995

Vol. 454 No. 6

Written Answers. - Grant Payments.

Austin Deasy

Question:

44 Mr. Deasy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry if he will appoint a personal representative in each agricultural office in the country which deals with headage premia and animal health grants to ensure that farmers get a satisfactory service where there is a problem about the payment of these grants. [11242/95]

Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry (Mr. Yates)

Since coming into office I have made clear my intention to provide an effective, streamlined and efficient service to farmers particularly in so far as payment of headage and premia grants is concerned.

At present, farmers have access to local offices of my Department, albeit on a restricted basis. To assist local offices in answering farmers' queries and to ensure that the most up-to-date information is available at local offices, an on-line computer system has been developed and installed. This system is at present up and running and allows those offices linked to the central computer, to access information regarding payment etc.

In April last a new charter of rights for farmers was launched. The purpose of the charter is to give a clear direction to my Department's staff on an important aspect of our work — the provision of a high quality service to our largest client group, Ireland's farmers. The charter is our commitment to give the farming community a quality user friendly service.

There are commitments in the charter on payment targets and on guaranteeing a full information service to farmers. To this end my Department's local offices will revert to normal opening hours from 1 September 1995 and all offices will provide a full service to clients during the hours 9.30 a.m. — 12.30 p.m. and 2 p.m. — 5 p.m. Additionally, each office will operate an information desk staffed by specially trained staff with a sufficiently broad knowledge of the schemes to enable an inquiring farmer to be given details of his-her entitlements under any of the Department's schemes. This "one-stop-shop" service will be introduced as from 1 November next.