asked the Minister for Agriculture if he proposes to re-introduce grant aid for farmers who keep farm accounts.

In view of the need to concentrate scarce resources on the most essential forms of investment I do not propose to re-introduce grant aid for the keeping of farm accounts.

Does the Minister agree that it was withdrawn at a time when people were commencing to keep farm accounts which are essential to a well run business, farming or otherwise, that it has an effect on forward planning, and that a system should be devised to give assistance or aid to them to keep their accounts?

I agree that the scheme was helpful. No scheme is introduced to run for ever and ever. Schemes are introduced for a period. We decided people were sufficiently versed in the working of farm accounts at the beginning of last year and we decided that the scheme could be terminated without detrimental effects.