Trevor Sargent (Dublin North, Green Party)

I agree with the Senator in that the scheme has been very successful. Even in the programme for Government when the projected growth rate in the country was of a totally different order to what we are now experiencing, at €2 million it was only a fraction of what we are now faced with. It is a reflection of the need for farmers to upgrade their facilities.

My understanding of the term "shortly" is next week or in that timeframe. I do not know if each farmer will be paid next week but the priority of the Department is to recognise that although it is not a perfect situation, within the boundaries of the available money it will not be held back. It will be paid out shortly which is the most my Department has been able to say. We are talking about days rather than months.