Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 1049: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will give details, containing as much data as possible, on an application for installation aid by a person (details supplied) in County Cork in view of the fact that the applicant has waited more than 12 months for this information; the cost to his Department of processing and furnishing similar requests in respect of this applicant; when payment will be made; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38810/09]

Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

The person concerned is an applicant under the Young Farmers Installation Scheme which has been suspended for new applications since 14 October 2008. Under the terms of the Scheme, payment of the grant concerned is made once it has been established that the requirements of the Scheme have been met, including the conditions in relation to property, education and income. In this case, an initial application (YFIS 1) was received by my Department on 13 October 2008 and an application for payment (YFIS 2) was received on 29 October 2008. The outcome of my Department's examination of the application will be made known to the applicant shortly.

The cost to my Department of processing such applications for grant-aid is dependent on a number of factors, such as the level of checking required to be carried out by the Inspectorate of my Department and whether or not the application is subject to an on-the-spot inspection. However, a recent Value For Money Review of the Scheme has calculated that administration costs, per Scheme beneficiary, are approx. €3,000.