Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Tuesday, 21 Jun 1994

Vol. 444 No. 1

Written Answers. - Alternative Enterprise Scheme.

John Bruton

Ceist:

118 Mr. J. Bruton asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry the reason a letter referred by him to the Minister of State at his Department on 17 November 1993, regarding a person (details supplied) in County Meath was not replied to until 31 January 1994, by which time it was too late to apply for grant aid under the Department's AES.

Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry (Mr. J. Walsh)

The alternative enterprise scheme under the operational programme for rural development was oversubscribed as early as June 1992 when consideration of further applications under the scheme was suspended. Some additional approvals issued later than this date where some funds became available as a result of a number of already approved projects not being proceeded with. It was not, however, possible to reopen the scheme to new applications.

In the case of the person named, it would not have been possible to consider a request for aid in any event as he had already completed the works involved. It is a strict condition of approval that works eligible for aid must be approved in writing by the farm development service before work commences.

There was some delay in replying to the letter in question arising from pressure of work in the division concerned. However, this in no way materially affected the case.