219 Mr. Deenihan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry when payment of a grant for dog kennels will be made to a person (details supplied) in County Kerry.

The grant has been paid.

220 Mr. Collins asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry the reason for the delay in the payment of an installation aid grant to a person (details supplied) in County Limerick in view of the fact that the application was made over a year ago.

This application has been deemed eligible for installation aid and payment will be made within the next two weeks.

221 Mr. Ellis asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry when a headage grant which has been cleared by the local office will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Leitrim.

The person named is not the registered owner of the herd number quoted. However, the registered herd owner's 1992 cattle and equines headage and suckler cow premium schemes grants are being processed at present and if found in order payments will issue to him shortly. He has been paid his 1992 sheep headage scheme grant already.

222 Dr. Upton asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry when a person (details supplied) in County Clare will be paid a farm improvement grant for the construction of a farm building, as the work has been completed, inspected and approved for payment by his Department.

Clerical staff have been temporarily withdrawn from a number of Farm Development Service Offices including Clare and transferred to livestock schemes to assist with the significant additional work arising from the increased payments to be made under the Common Agricultural Policy reform measures. This is causing some delays on other work but is essential if the new arrangements are to be put in place for this year's schemes.

This payment will be dealt with at the earliest opportunity when the staff are assigned back to their normal duties.