Seamus Brennan
Ceist:12 Mr. S. Brennan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry the reason for the delay in distributing area aid application forms; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8413/97]
Written Answers. - Area Aid Application Forms.
There has been a delay in issuing area aid application forms for 1997. The issue of application forms, with a helpsheet and terms and conditions to farmers who have previously submitted an area aid application, will commence this week and is expected to be completed by the end of next week. This is in line with the situation in 1996. To facilitate completion of area aid applications by those farmers, their forms are pre-printed with personalised details including details of land parcels previously declared by them. Maps to facilitate the completion of the 1997 application are currently issuing to those farmers who submitted maps previously and this issue is expected to be completed by 5 April. Non-personalised area aid application forms for new applicants will be available from local offices of my Department and from Teagasc offices from the beginning of next week.
Since the closing date for submission of area aid applications this year is Wednesday, 30 April 1997, I am satisfied intending applicants for area aid in 1997 will have sufficient time to complete and submit their area aid applications before that deadline.