asked the Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries if he will increase the rate of grants payable to current participants in the Small Farm (Incentive Bonus) Scheme to ensure that payments will be based on parity with the rates to be obtained by new applicants.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Farm Bonus Scheme.
79.
As announced in the budget, outstanding grant instalments due to participants who were in the scheme before its revision in January last have been increased to £100. This is equivalent to the amount of the first grant instalment payable under the revised scheme and I do not contemplate any further increase at present.
Is the Minister aware that those farmers who applied when this scheme was initiated now find that those who did not do so and are current applicants will fare better financially? If so, surely he could devise some system such as increasing the period for grants from four years to six years so that past applicants will get the same amount of money from the scheme as current applicants are getting?
I do not accept the Deputy's first premise that people who entered the scheme at an earlier date were in some way at a loss. I am sure the Deputy will agree that the main purpose in the payment of this grant is to enable the participant in the scheme to enlarge his herd. People who entered the scheme at an early stage would naturally be able to buy additional cattle at much lower prices than the same cattle are now commanding. Latecomers to the scheme must contend with that very serious factor. Against that, the increase which the old participants in the scheme can now get is a fairly satisfactory compromise between the two situations.
Would the Minister not accept that the extension of the payment period by one year would go a long way towards meeting complaints, should I say now, in view of the changed conditions of the original participants?
The Deputy's general contention that payment over a longer period is better than payment over a short period is indisputable, of course.
Will the Minister consider extending it by one year?
For the moment I think the scheme is satisfactory enough.