Vol. 534 No. 2
74 Mr. Penrose asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development if he will take steps to ensure that a grant due to a person (details supplied) in County Westmeath under the FIP is paid out immediately; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10303/01]
The person named is an applicant under the national scheme of investment aid for the control of farm pollution. A final inspection of the investment works found that they had been carried out in accordance with my Department's specifications. Before payment can be made it will be necessary for the person named to submit a farm nutrient management plan which is a condition of the scheme. The farm nutrient management plan involves soil sampling which then must be analysed by a competent agency such as Teagasc. I understand that soil samples were taken by Teagasc, however, as a precautionary measure during the current foot and mouth alert no soil analysis can be carried out in any Teagasc laboratory. Teagasc are keeping the position under review and I understand that they will be guided by the expert group under the chairmanship of Professor Michael Monaghan, Dean of Faculty of Veterinary Medicine in UCD. I appreciate the difficulty which the delay is causing for the applicant but, in the circumstances, there is no alternative.
