asked the Minister for Agriculture the number of farmers in Counties Laois and Offaly who have been notified by his Department in cases where written approval had not been received to suspend grants for farm buildings arising from the Government's decision, if he is aware of the number of farmers who have received notification and who had already commenced work in good faith as it was part of their farm development plan; if his decision will create serious financial problems for such farmers as they had budgeted for those grants when arranging their finances; and if he will make an amended order to cater for such cases.
Written Answers . - Farm Buildings Grants .
705.
: Two hundred and sixty-two applicants in Counties Laois and Offaly have been notified that applications for grant aid for buildings and fixed assets, on hands when grants for such works were suspended, would not be processed further. It is a condition of the farm modernisation scheme that works commenced without the prior written approval of the Minister are not eligible for grant aid. I am not aware if any of the applicants referred to above might have commenced work without prior written approval but any who did so would be ineligible for grant aid for those works, even if grant aid had not been suspended. No special arrangements are envisaged for such farmers.