asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food the average length of delays in the payment of farm modernisation grants from the date the grant is passed to the date the cheque is issued to the applicant.
Written Answers. - Farm Modernisation Grants.
85.
Payments of grants under the farm investment schemes operated by my Department are being phased in such a way as to ensure adherence to the amount provided in the Vote. These payments are made as early as possible. Payments under the western drainage scheme are made with little or no delay. There is, however, a delay of approximately four to five months in the case of the programme for western development, six to seven months in the case of the farm improvement programme and seven to eight months in the case of the farm modernisation scheme. All claims are dealt with strictly in order of receipt. This is the most equitable way of administering the schemes within the resources made available in the Book of Estimates in accordance with Government policy on public expenditure.