John McGuinness
Ceist:176 Mr. McGuinness asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development if compensation is due to a person (details supplied) in County Carlow; and if so, when payment will be made. [9935/01]
Written Answers. - Grant Payments.
An interim payment of £10,000 issued on a "without prejudice" basis to the person concerned on 8 March 2001. The question of further compensation will be considered once the current investigation of certain animals is fully completed.
Brendan Kenneally
Ceist:177 Mr. Kenneally asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development the reason payment has not issued to a person (details supplied) in County Waterford within four weeks as outlined in the answer to Parliamentary Question No. 121 of 14 February 2001; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9936/01]
Due to staff shortages in the local office of my Department in Dungarvan it was not possible to carry out a final inspection of the investment works of the person under the national farm pollution scheme prior to 22 February 2001. On 22 February all farm visits by officials of my Department were banned as result of the outbreak of foot and mouth disease in the UK. The question of carrying out farm visits has been considered, along with the other foot and mouth restrictions, by an expert group. The advice of this group to date remains that visits to farms continue to be a high risk activity and that for the present only visits deemed to be absolutely necessary should take place. On that basis it is not proposed to carry out any farm visits to inspect completed works. However, the position is being kept under continuous review.