asked the Minister for Agriculture the reasons for the continuing delays in the payment of grants under the farm modernisation scheme and the steps being taken to improve the system to enable payment to issue within a reasonable time.

The enormous increase in the demand for grants under the farm modernisation scheme over the past six months has inevitably led to a lengthening of the period between certification and payment. Every effort is being made to expedite the process and I would hope that the position will improve fairly soon.

Is the Minister aware of the very grave hardship being caused to farmers because of delay in payments as they have to carry the payments by way of bridging finance from the banks?

It is hoped to have this matter speeded up by the end of the month.

What steps have been taken to speed up the process?

There is nearly always a falling off of applications at this time of the year. This is one way of speeding up the process and we will also have extra staff.

What extra staffing is intended to cope with the scheme?

I do not have those figures here.

Would the Minister give an indication of, first, the average delay between a request for inspection and the inspection and, second, between inspection and payment?

The money provided in the Vote for the farm modernisation scheme was £36.5 million. To date £20 million have been paid as against £11 million for the same period last year. The amount due for payment is approximately £6 million.

Would the Minister accept that farmers have been waiting up to six months, and sometimes longer, for their payments and that they are paying bridging loans in the meantime? This is a ridiculous situation.

What is the minimum time people are waiting for payment of grants?

The Deputy should give notice of that question.

I do not have the exact figure. I have given the amounts involved.

I know, but the question is about delay in payments. This is very relevant. What is the minimum time? That should be included in the Minister's brief.

We have had seven supplementary questions. This is more than the average.

This is my first. I would like a reply to my question.

I have already given the amounts involved. In the same period last year we paid £11 million and this year £20 million.

I am aware of that, but what extra staff have been employed?

I do not know. If the Deputy puts down a question——

The Minister does not know——

That is not in the question.

Order, please.

The minimum time is in the question.

Questions Nos. 38 to 51, inclusive, are for written reply.