asked the Minister for Agriculture the amount which has been collected from the inspection fees under the farm modernisation scheme since their introduction.

Since the charge for visits in connection with the farm modernisation scheme was introduced on 1 March 1983, £687,600 was collected up to 31 March 1985.

Having regard to the enormous amount that has been collected under the heading of inspection fees and the fact that that money has come directly out of the pockets of farmers, thus leaving that much less to invest in holdings that were in the process of development, will the Minister of State not agree it is time that the collection of such fees was reviewed with a view to eliminating them?

That was a budgetary matter in the year in question. The number of visits and the obvious activity in that section proves that there were many farmers interested in the scheme in the period under review.

Will the Minister of State say the average number of visits per grant application?

I am sorry I have not that information. However, every effort has been made to ensure there is the least number of visits for obvious reasons.

I suggest that the number would be in excess of two or three per grant application. This would mean a total of at least £60 per application to be collected in respect of inspection fees.

That is a separate question and, for obvious reasons, I am not able to answer it. My understanding is that the average is about two.

(Limerick West): Will the Minister of State say if it is envisaged that these charges will be continued when the revamped farm modernisation scheme is introduced at the end of this year?

That is a separate question.

In any event I am unable to answer it because we have not finally decided on the format of the new scheme.

5.