asked the Minister for Agriculture the amount paid out to farmers in County Longford up to the latest available date this year in: (a) headage grants and (b) suckler grants; the present position regarding the veterinary office in County Longford; and the areas in County Longford declared disadvantaged areas in the past three years.

The amount paid to farmers in County Longford this year to-date under the disadvantaged areas headage schemes is £156,138 and under the suckler cow scheme is £90,758. Negotiations are in progress to lease premises in Longford town to be used as a Department local office. The whole of County Longford was declared a disadvantaged area in 1975 under EC Directive 75/268/EEC.