asked the Minister for Agriculture if his attention has been drawn to delays in payment to farmers under the farm modernisation scheme and if he will increase grants for farm buildings.

Grants under the farm modernisation scheme are normally paid within six weeks after receipt of notification that the work has been completed. In some hundreds of cases, however, payment cannot be made until evidence of keeping farm accounts is furnished to my Department. The farmers concerned have been notified to this effect and have been asked to furnish the necessary evidence.

Grants are based on national standard costings in operation at the time of approval. These costings are revised from time to time to take account of price changes. The last revision took place as recently as December.

Is the Minister aware that in the White Paper published in 1979 the Government undertook to introduce such a scheme in 1979? The White Paper did not make any reference at all to the suggestion today that this required EEC approval. Is this not a retreat from policy?

I would not agree. Any change must await the review which is taking place by the EEC Commission. We hope progress will be made in the near future.

Why did not the White Paper, in paragraph 3.10, make reference to this requirement? It stated baldly that it would be done in 1979, full stop.

A full explanation has been given in the letter sent to the Deputy on 19 February.

There has not been an explanation for the discrepancy between the White Paper and what the Minister has been saying today.

We hope the review will be completed fully and that the necessary changes can be put into effect soon.

4.

asked the Minister for Agriculture the reason the undertaking in paragraph 3.10 of the White Paper on the economy that performance grants would be introduced under the farm modernisation scheme was not implemented.

As was pointed out in a letter sent to the Deputy from my office on 19 February, consideration of further action in this matter has to await decisions on the proposals for revision of the enabling directive which are currently before the Council of Ministers.