Vol. 509 No. 3
112 Mr. B. Smith asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development if grant assistance is available towards the provision of irrigation systems in existing mushroom houses; if the existing scheme of grant assistance towards the construction of mushroom houses includes provision of an irrigation system; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20251/99]
The farm improvement programme – horticulture – ceased on 9 July 1999 and there is currently no scheme in operation to grant aid irrigation systems in mushroom houses.
A new scheme of investment aid for horticulture is being considered in the context of my Department's proposals for the National Development Plan.
113 Mr. Perry asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development if his attention has been drawn to the fact that there are long delays in farmers being notified of any problems on their area aid applications; the steps, if any, he has put in place to ensure that farmers receive accurate information regarding specific problems on their 1999 applications in view of the fact these applications are the key to farmers successfully drawing down their full headage, premia and tillage subsidies in 1999; when a farmer will be notified of any problems on his application; the plans, if any, he has to ensure that there will be no payment delays in 1999; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20212/99]
The area aid unit of my Department has been processing the 134,000 applications for some months now. For the vast bulk of cases where farmers made no change on the pre-printed form issued by the area aid unit they receive headage, premia or arable payments as soon as it is possible to make such payments under the relevant EU regulations. In the other cases my Department makes every effort to make contact with the farmers concerned as soon as possible to facilitate the resolution of any problems with their area aid applications.
I am confident that, with a prompt response by farmers to queries from my Department, all payments will be made for 1999 schemes in accordance with the terms and conditions of the charter of rights for farmers and in line with my Department's customer service action plan.
