Vol. 503 No. 7
76 Mr. Callely asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food the amount of all grants paid to farmers in 1998; the number of farmers that availed of one or more payments of grant, subsidy, premium or any payment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10905/99]
The total amount of grants paid to farmers in 1998 was £1,038 million.
Because of the number of schemes involved, I cannot readily say exactly how many farmers benefited. However, some 133,000 area aid applications were made which gives an indication of how many may have qualified for grants in 1998 and a substantial number of farmers would have availed of more than one scheme.
My Department will provide more exact information to the Deputy in this respect within a week or so.
