Vol. 465 No. 2
131 Cecilia Keaveney asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry the reason the Derry Journal, which sells over 9,000 copies in Inishowen, County Donegal, is not recognised by his Department as a suitable paper for placing Government advertisements; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9357/96]
Available funds for advertising in regional papers are limited due to budgetary constraints. Where possible the Department does advertise with the Donegal People's Press, part of the same group. The situation in regard to the Derry Journal will be kept under review.
132 Mr. Creed asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry whether he approves the wording of a recent advertisement issued by his Department in the public press regarding 1996 area aid applications which discriminates against applicants who make genuine errors in completing their application and exempts departmental errors from any sanction. [9371/96]
The advertisement referred to by the Deputy was intended to convey to farmers the message that errors made by them in their 1996 area aid applications arising on foot of faulty mapping by my Department's agent would not be penalised. The advertisement stated that errors, for example, those arising from faulty mapping by the farmers themselves, made by farmers in their 1996 area aid applications would have to be dealt with in the usual way "and could involve penalties". Such penalties would arise where errors are made deliberately or through negligence on the part of the applicants — if the errors are found to be obvious and unintentional, however, penalties will not be applied.
I am satisfied, therefore, that the advertisement is entirely fair and in issuing it, the intention was to ease concerns which were being expressed by farmers. In so far as the Department's agent is concerned, this firm will be required during 1996 to correct any faulty mapping issued to farmers at no extra contract cost to my Department.
