asked the Minister for Agriculture if he will state whether in cases where the time has elapsed for work to be completed under the farm modernisation scheme for farm buildings, he will consider giving a further extension.

Approved applicants for grant aid under the farm modernisation scheme are given adequate time in which to carry out their work. Failure to complete the work to specification by the given date can result in loss of entitlement to grant aid. I do not propose to allow any extension of time limits.

Because the Department are not allowing any flexibility this is having a very serious effect on people who borrowed heavily to carry out grant-aided work. Heretofore there was a certain amount of flexibility which is no longer available. This type of flexibility cannot be withdrawn overnight.

Some people had six years to fulfil their farm plans and in the Deputy's area they had eight years. That is a considerable length of time. My Department feel there is no justification for extending this scheme.

Is the Minister aware that in some cases plans may have been approved in the sixth year? This means farmers have a very short time to carry out the work involved and because of scarcity of funds and credit many of them were unable to get the work done. I know of a man who lost £3,500. Is that fair?

We extended the farm modernisation scheme for buildings and reclamation work from July 1983 to August 1983 and September 1983. We consider that a liberal extension.

Farmers do this type of work in the off-periods, and that is when they can get contractors to do it.

We are talking about an extension of the existing deadline. I think it was reasonable.

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