asked the Minister for Agriculture when he will pay grants under the winter fodder scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

The total number of applicants under the winter fodder scheme 1985 was approximately 58,000. There were 24,000 applicants for the nitrogen subsidy and 34,000 for the silage subsidy. The bulk of applicants under the nitrogen scheme have now been paid subsidy. In the case of silage, over 9,000 applicants have been paid. Processing of the remainder is in progress and payments will be made as quickly as possible.

Will the Minister not agree that there was unnecessary delay in payment under the schemes and that the entire operation was quite chaotic throughout the country? Will he assure us that any appeals under the schemes will be given speedy and sympathetic consideration?

I think the Deputy is somewhat confused.

The confusion lies with the Department of Agriculture.

I think there was a certain confusion in the Deputy's supplementary question. I am talking here about the fodder scheme as distinct from the feed scheme. Under the fodder scheme the number of applications was 58,000 and under the feed scheme the number of applications was 90,000 of which 78,000 were successful. The Deputy may be mixing up the two schemes. The number of applicants for the nitrogen and the silage schemes was in excess of anything we anticipated. When the silage scheme first operated some 8,000 applications were received and this was at a time when agriculture was at a less developed stage. On this occasion there were 34,000 applications and the Deputy will appreciate the enormity of the task of vetting all the applications. I am glad to say that the scheme has been most successful and has done much good where there were problems with regard to fodder.