Vol. 537 No. 5
185 Mr. Naughten asked the Minister for Public Enterprise the plans she has to review the farm electrification grant scheme in view of the large number of part-time farmers who are currently ineligible due to the principal source of income guideline; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17198/01]
I have no immediate plans to review the terms of the farm electrification grant scheme, FEGS, but if such a review takes place in the future the concerns expressed by the Deputy will be borne in mind. The current level of funding available for the scheme would not accommodate an expansion of the cases of the type implied in the question.
I draw the Deputy's attention to the fact that applicants who do not qualify for grant aid under the farm electrification grant scheme can avail of ESB's deferred payments option. This allows applicants pay a deposit to the ESB and the balance over a period of one to five years.
