asked the Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries if the advisory officers of county committees of agriculture have responsibility for operating the farm modernisation scheme; and, if not, if he will state which officers of his Department have the responsibility.

Responsibility for the operation of the farm modernisation scheme is shared between the advisory service of the county committees of agriculture and my Department. The county committee staffs have responsibility for determining the eligibility of applicants, their classification and for the preparation of farm development plans. My Department are responsible, firstly, for co-ordinating procedures, general administration, supervision, accounting in connection with the scheme and secondly, through the farm development service, for issuing approval and determining the amount of grant payable in respect of individual works provided for in farm development plans.