Vol. 510 No. 3
75 Mr. Deasy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development if his attention has been drawn to the fact that some installation aid applications under the scheme suspended on 7 August 1997 are being refused for what seem relatively minor technicalities such as delays in transferring a herd number; if he will ensure such obstacles are surmounted on behalf of applicants; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22452/99]
The scheme of installation aid which operated under the Operational Programme for Agriculture, Rural Development and Forestry 1994-99 was suspended on 7 August 1997. All valid applications received in my Department prior to that date were processed for payment. However, it was subsequently decided that applicants whose applications were held in the offices of Teagasc or private planners on 7 August 1997, and who were ineligible to apply under the national installation aid scheme introduced last year, could be accepted for assessment under the earlier scheme provided they met the eligibility requirements of the scheme on 7 August 1997. Such applications had to have attained the same level of completeness as the applications which had been received in my Department at the time of the suspension of the scheme.
The critical conditions which had to be met to enable these applications be accepted for examination were the application form must have been signed and dated before the scheme was suspended; an application to have the herd number transferred into the name of the applicant must have been made prior to the suspension of the scheme; and either the deed transferring the land or the lease agreement of lands taken over by the applicant must have been stamped by the Revenue Commissioners and lodged for registration in the Land Registry, where applicable, by 7 August 1997.
All the requirements I have outlined were set out in the scheme document and the operational guidelines for the scheme which were available to all applicants and agricultural consultants. I am satisfied that my Department has made every effort to ensure that all eligible applicants were accommodated under the 1994-97 scheme.
