(Limerick West) asked the Minister for Agriculture the number of personnel working in the farm development section of his Department; the cost of their salaries and expenses; and the value of grants paid in this area of operation for 1980, 1981 and 1982 and the estimated cost for 1983.

The information requested is set out in a tabular statement which I propose to circulate in the Official Report.

Following is the statement:

Department of Agriculture (Farm Development Service)

Note

A proportion of the staff was engaged in seasonal work on the Livestock Headage Schemes in 1982 and 1983. The cost of their salaries and expenses is included above.