asked the Minister for Agriculture the number of grants allocated by his Department since the introduction of the farm modernisation scheme; the number of these grants that were not paid due to applicants not having completely adhered to the specific grant requirements; the amount of money saved by his Department as a result of these grant rejections; if he will now introduce emergency legislation to pay a percentage of the allocated grant to applicants who completed projects and did not receive any grant or part thereof; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

14.

asked the Minister for Agriculture if refunds of grants will be sought from the farmers that his Department alleged did not fully comply with grant requirements under the farm modernisation scheme.

I propose to take Questions Nos. 13 and 14 together.

The total number of grants approved from the inception of the FMS in 1974 to 31 December 1983 was 300, 295.

No figures are available on the number of approved grants, or the amount of grant-aid involved, which were subsequently not paid due to the applicant's failure to adhere to the conditions of the scheme. Where a grant has been paid and an applicant subsequently fails to comply with the conditions of the scheme, e.g. in relation to the keeping of farm accounts, the grant or a portion thereof falls to be refunded to the Department.

There should be figures available for the number of applications rejected. Many farmers got sanction for grants but for various reasons — be they financial, the weather, the soil or the topography of the area — they were not in a position to adhere strictly to the criteria laid down and as a result——

A question, please, Deputy.

——they have been denied these grants. Would the Minister make a special effort to pay a certain percentage to farmers? I know a farmer who adhered 90 per cent to the criteria laid down. In my view he is justly entitled to a 90 per cent grant for his investment. Would the Minister consider, even at this late stage, compensating those farmers by granting them a percentage of the grants originally allocated to them?

It is impossible to give the number of applications received because a great deal of the work has not been completed. Some farmers were not paid because the work was not carried out. Of the 300,000 applicants I referred to, 246,500 have been paid.

Could we have an indication of the Minister's commitment to these farmers?

How many farmers were asked for a refund and what was the amount involved?

I do not have that figure.

Where a farmer has done everything that was asked of him to get a grant, and where the only reason for his not getting the full grant has been his failure to publish farm accounts, is it not possible to pay the remainder of the grant when the farm accounts are produced?

The Deputy will be pleased to hear that I have decided to extend to 31 July 1984 the submission of accounts for the accounting years ending prior to 31 July 1983. Instructions have been issued to ACOT who have been asked to notify relevant farmers of the relaxation in the requirement. Account extracts for years ending after 31 July 1983 must be submitted to ACOT within 12 months of the closing inventory date.

I am delighted to hear that, but is the Minister not being restrictive in tying it to 31 July 1983? In this House we are constantly getting accounts from semi-State bodies two and three years late. Why should not this 12 months latitude, for which the farmers will be grateful, be extended to July 1982?

The earlier part of my statement took care of people in 1982 and earlier years.

If a person sends in his accounts for 1982 and they are verified, will he get the remainder of his grant?

Yes.

The Minister said the Department would be seeking refunds from farmers who did not keep farm accounts. Would he agree that it is not traditional for farmers to keep accounts over the years and that their only incentive to keep accounts was for grant purposes? Now that the farm accounts grant has been suspended, would the Minister consider restoring it to ensure that in future farmers keep proper accounts?

No scheme is introduced with the idea of it staying on ad infinitum. Schemes are brought in to help people get used to a certain system. This grant scheme has been in operation for a number of years and it was felt that the farmers should have become accustomed to keeping farm accounts without the help of grants.

(Limerick West): Would the Minister consider paying these grants by way of instalments.

I would have to discuss this with my officials to see if it is practicable.

(Limerick West): I am not asking for an answer now; I am asking the Minister if he will consider it.

Yes, I will consider it and discuss it with my officials to see if it is practicable.

15.