(Limerick West) asked the Minister for Agriculture if he intends to initiate a review of the farm development service; if this review will be undertaken by an external body or by an internal committee within his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

As proposed in Building on Reality, a review is being carried out on the role and functions of ACOT and the Farm Development Service in the operation of farm investment programmes to achieve the most effective use of the manpower available. This review is being carried out by officials of my Department who are in consultation with ACOT on some aspects.

The outcome of the review will be taken into account in the implementation of the new structural policy recently adopted by the EC Council of Ministers.

(Limerick West): Could the Minister indicate the difference between the review as between ACOT and AFT on one hand and the FDS on the other? In other words, one is an outside body and the other is an internal review. Why the difference?

As far as this review is concerned, every farmer would be aware, as has been stated in this House on more than one occasion over the years, that there was a cumbersome enough system of determining eligibility, on one hand by the advisory service and on the other the role of the FDS as being the agents for the financial involvement. That is something that I am deeply interested in and I am trying to get a system under the new national scheme, to be introduced later this year, to ensure that there will be less bureaucracy than was involved in the last scheme. That is basically what this is for.

(Limerick West): When does the Minister hope to have this internal review completed?

Very shortly. I would say within the next month or so.

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