Vol. 577 No. 1
111 Mr. R. Bruton asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food if he will approve the issue of a cheque in respect of a farm grant owed by the Department of Agriculture and Food which was lost and was not found until years later. [30568/03]
The original payable order in this case issued on 10 March 1989 and was presented for reissue in 2003. The position is that, in accordance with audit requirements, an out-of-date payable order is reissued where adequate checks can be carried out ensuring that a replacement payable order did not already issue. As this payable order is in excess of 14 years old the relevant records relating to it cannot be traced. Accordingly, my Department is not in a position to issue a replacement in this instance.
