Vol. 535 No. 1
241 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development if he will implement a short-term change of policy to enable farm development grant applicants, who have been approved and surveyed by Teagasc to proceed with their development, rather than waiting for a Department official to approve the application in view of the foot and mouth disease restrictions. [12216/01]
On the basis of advice received from an expert group which I established to advise me it was considered inappropriate to approve works to proceed on farms which would involve the entry of contractors, builders etc. on to farms. However, at its most recent meeting the committee decided that a protocol should be drawn up to allow for the entry on to farms by contractors for the purposes of installing bulk milk tanks or delivering mobile equipment under the farm waste management scheme. The position in relation to other works is being kept under review.
