Vol. 561 No. 5
179 Mr. Crawford asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food the number of young farmers who have applied for installation aid under the 2000-06 scheme announced on 15 February 2001; the number of these who have now been paid; the number of the 1,353 farmers who applied under the 1 January 1995 scheme who have been paid grant aid; if changes are planned to make the scheme more acceptable and available; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4816/03]
Some 1,188 farmers have been paid, to date, under the 1995 national scheme of installation aid. The number of applications received, to date, by my Department under the current installation aid scheme is 1,797 of which 512 have been paid.
The current installation aid scheme was last revised on 7 May 2002 when I removed the upper income ceiling of 150 income units for applicants under this scheme. This ensured that the maximum number of young farmers could benefit from this measure and also had the effect of greatly simplifying the application procedure.
180 Mr. Hogan asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food when an installation aid grant will be awarded to a person (details supplied) in County Kilkenny; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4887/03]
An incomplete application under the installation aid scheme from the person named was received by my Department on 17 June 2002. Further documentation was accordingly sought from the applicant concerned. Until this documentation is received, the application cannot be further processed.
