asked the Minister for Agriculture if he will outline the implications of the present phasing out of grants for farm improvements and buildings under Directive 159; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

19.

asked the Minister for Agriculture the reason for the withdrawal of grant-aid to development; and when the grant-aid will be restored.

20.

asked the Minister for Agriculture if he will restore grant-aid to development farmers under the farm modernisation scheme as a matter of urgency; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

21.

asked the Minister for Agriculture, in view of the fact that the scheme providing for new farm plans and supplement rises for farmers in the development category of the farm modernisation scheme expired on 31 December in line with EC Directive 159, the reason that the farm advisory services were not instructed to this effect until after 27 January; and if he will confirm suggestions that in the case of farm plans or supplementaries to existing farm plans approved during the intervening period no grant will be paid.

I propose to take Questions Nos. 18 to 21 inclusive together.

When Directive 72/159/EEC, on which the farm modernisation scheme is based, expired on 31 December 1984, ACOT were allowed to continue approving new plans. This was in line with the practice adopted on two previous occasions when the directive expired. On each occasion the directive was subsequently extended with retroactive effect so that expenditure on plans approved in the interval between the expiry and the subsequent extension of the directive qualified for FEOGA reimbursement.

Towards the end of January 1985, the EC Commission advised member states that, as the directive had expired, there was no guarantee that expenditure by national authorities on new development plans would qualify for FEOGA reimbursement.

In the light of this unprecedented development, the position was reviewed and it was decided to suspend forthwith the approval by ACOT of new development plans, including supplementary plans. ACOT were notified to that effect on 28 January.

Grants under plans, including supplementaries, approved in the period from 1 January 1985 to the date of receipt by the local ACOT office of the notice of suspension may be approved and paid in the normal way, as may grant-aid to farmers whose development plans were approved before 1 January 1985. Investments by farmers in the "Commercial" and "Other" categories were not affected by the suspension.

The Council of Ministers recently decided to extend Directive 72/159 until 30 September 1985. ACOT were accordingly authorised to recommence, as from 1 April 1985, the approval of new development plans and of supplementary investment under existing plans.

Is the Minister of State yet in a position to tell me when farmers who have been denied grant-aid for development under Directive 72/159, because of the prior written approval clause, will be paid? The Minister said two weeks ago that he expected to make an announcement to that effect in a couple of weeks.

That is a separate question to the one put down by the Deputy.

If the Minister reads fairly closely the question that I have put down, this matter is covered.

I cannot comment except to say that what the Minister stated two weeks ago, the position is the same as the Deputy has said.

22.