asked the Minister for Agriculture if EEC moneys are available to provide grants to grain merchants and co-operatives for increasing grain drying and storage facilities; and, if so, if it is intended to make these grants available in Ireland.

Under the Community's scheme of FEOGA grants for marketing and processing of agricultural products, the EEC Commission may give grants for the provision of grain drying and storage facilities. An essential condition of eligibility for a grant under that scheme, however, is that a minimum part of the cost must be financed from national funds. Some years ago the Industrial Development Authority ceased giving grants for grain drying and storage facilities except where these form part of a general scheme of modernisation of a provender milling business and then only to the extent of the storage deemed for working stocks. I recently raised with the authority the question of reintroducing grants for grain storage and drying generally and that body are currently examining the matter.

Is it not the case that there was a promise in the Fianna Fáil election manifesto to introduce grants of this sort at a higher level?

Payment of grants for undertakings of this kind to industrial firms, as it were, is ruled by the provisions of the guidance section of FEOGA.

Why was it promised in the election manifesto if it cannot be done?

There is nothing about manifesto in this question.

Adequate grants are available for farm storage. Speaking from recollection I think the manifesto put an emphasis on farm storage.

Did the Minister do anything about what was promised in the manifesto?

Yes, adequate grants are available for farm storage and drying.

There were adequate grants when the manifesto was published. Nothing has happened since.