asked the Minister for Agriculture if his attention has been drawn to the long delay experienced by farmers in County Tipperary in obtaining payment of grants under the farm modernisation scheme; the number of such outstanding grants and of his proposals to expedite payment of them.
Written Answers. - Farm Modernisation Scheme.
289.
On average, grants under the farm modernisation scheme are paid within six weeks of receipt of notification of completion of the work.
The only grant claims awaiting payment in County Tipperary are current ones. These will be paid shortly.
290.
asked the Minister for Agriculture if he will outline the procedures to be followed by a farmer seeking reclassification under the farm modernisation scheme and if he will simplify this procedure.
The procedure to be followed by a farmer seeking reclassification is straightforward.
Application for reclassification should be made to the chief agricultural officer of the local county committee of agriculture whose function it is to examine such applications in consultation, where necessary, with my Department.
The procedure works well and requires no simplification.