asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food the reason for the delay in announcing details of the new scheme of grants to aid agriculture.

I assume the Deputy is referring to the measures comprised in the revised western package.

Before these new schemes could be introduced they had to be incorporated in a programme which must be approved by the EC Commission. This programme was formally submitted to the Commission on 23 May. Discussions had been initiated with senior EC officials in advance of this.

I am pressing for very early approval of the programme.