asked the Minister for Agriculture if the headage scheme could commence from the month of May, as an incentive to small farmers in the west of Ireland, owing to the complete dissatisfaction with the present situation.

I do not accept that there is complete dissatisfaction with the present situation. Grants under the various headage schemes cannot be paid until animals are inspected. Inspections take place on a programmed basis. The inspection of 12,000 beef cow herds commences in March, 18,000 sheep flocks are inspected between May and July followed by 75,000 cattle herds from August onwards. Efforts are continually being made to advance the dates of inspections and speed up inspection procedures. This year, for instance, cattle headage payment scheme inspections began in mid-August which is almost two weeks earlier than 1977 and five weeks earlier than 1976.