asked the Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries if he is aware that many farmers (names supplied) in Connemara, County Galway have been denied grants because their sheep had identification marks on the right ear; and, if so, if he will reconsider the decisions made on these applications.

I will have the cases referred to by the Deputy investigated. The conditions of the sheep headage payments scheme require that the right ears of animals presented for inspection should not be marked or disfigured in a manner which could be confused with the notching system used by my Department for the identification of animals accepted for grant purposes under the scheme.

In certain parts of the mountain areas there is a habit of punching sheep. It is similar to that used for grant purposes. Surely the Minister will agree it would not be fair if these people were not paid the grants? I would ask the Minister to investigate the matter and ensure that they are paid. They are not trying to cheat anybody.

I am sure the Deputy would like to avoid fraud in the expenditure of taxpayers' money. If the people the Deputy has referred to are putting the same punch mark in the ears of the sheep as we are putting for grant purposes then the same sheep could be presented twice for payment of grants. We have known such frauds to take place. It is only for that reason we are being cautious about this. I have said I will take up the cases referred to and have them investigated. What more can I do in the circumstances? I intend to warn these people finally and definitely, as I have had to do in another area in the country, that next year if they continue doing the same punching and being the cause of the same type of confusion they will not get any grants.

Could the Department not use a tag similar to that used for cattle instead of punching?

All of us have experience of tags and we know the fraud that can be carried on in tag switching. I do not want another easy way for fraud to be carried out.

May we take it that at least this year the Minister will not debar anyone from getting a grant?

I have said I am having the cases investigated.

I am calling Question No. 32.