asked the Minister for Agriculture the reason a person (details supplied) in County Cork was not paid a grant under the farm modernisation scheme; and if this was due to procedural weaknesses in the farm modernisation scheme because of the extreme amount of paper work and the time lost in ACOT and FDS corresponding with each other.

It is a condition under the farm modernisation scheme that a project to be grant-aided must form part of a farm plan. As the item in question was not on the farm plan at the time of purchase and in addition was purchased without the prior written approval of the farm development service, it is not eligible for grant aid.

The necessary documentation was lodged in the office in Cork on 21 May and the return did not arrive in Fermoy until 4 June. I cannot understand why there was such a delay and why this man should be victimised to the extent of losing a substantial grant. He is a very valid contractor in my area and I am asking the Minister would he at this stage have a thorough investigation carried out? There may be others in a similar position.

I shall be delighted to carry out an investigation but from the information I have it would appear this man did not actually make application in the normal way.

That is not correct. He made application and the documentation was lodged on 21 May 1981 in the office in Cork—and the documentation necessary to qualify did not arrive at the FDS office in Fermoy until 4 June.

For the Deputy's information the item in question was purchased on 1 May 1981 and an invoice which was not marked paid—it is important that it should be—was received by the farm development service in the Fermoy office on 7 September 1981.

I can only tell the Minister what I have.

And I have told the Deputy what I have.

8.