asked the Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries if he will extend the qualifying date for participation in the Beef Cattle Incentive Scheme by one month from 1st March, 1973.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Beef Cattle Incentive Scheme.
142.
In response to representations which I have received from a number of sources, I have now arranged that applications received up to and including 13th April will be accepted under the Beef Cattle Incentive Scheme in 1973.
Many herd owners have not yet been informed—is this not correct? What is against an all-year-round operation? I know the Department has always operated in this way but why not have tests in April, November, March and October?
That is a separate question.
Yes, but this is a very important matter and I should like the Minister to get the Department to look into it.
The Deputy must appreciate that if you have no closing date you have a limited number of people going around on those inspections. If they have to retrace their steps over the same areas for fresh applicants as they come up, we would need to treble the staff. We find it hard enough to get existing staff to deal with the scheme.
Is it not right that they will have to go around again in any case? I am just asking the Minister to look into the matter.
Of course I shall look into it.
143.
asked the Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries if he is yet in a position to make a statement on a proposal from Mayo County Committee of Agriculture to amend the scale of grants payable under the Beef Cattle Incentive Scheme.
144.
asked the Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries if he will consider giving the grant under the Beef Cattle Incentive Scheme for all calves in herds of ten cows or less.
145.
asked the Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries if he will include the first two cows in all herds for Beef Cattle Incentive Scheme grants as many farmers in the west of Ireland have small herds.
I propose with your permission, a Cheann Comhairle, to take Questions Nos. 143, 144 and 145 together.
The rates of grant payable under the Beef Cattle Incentive Scheme for 1973-74 will be as already announced. I have not yet had an opportunity of examining in any detail various suggestions for amendment of the scheme, including those mentioned in the questions.
I should like to bring to the attention of the Minister the keen concern about the scheme in the west of Ireland particularly where there are so many small farmers. They are the people who are really losing. It is only a question of £40 for those two extra cows or even £32 in all but it makes all the difference to the small farmer. It is disappointing for him when he sees a man with 30 cows getting full grants while with five cows he is only getting three.
I know the Minister has not had much time to consider this, but there is the problem of the final agreement. You can get support from the EEC. I would like the Minister to consider some sort of scheme on that scale. I am referring to Question No. 144.
Would the Minister consider doubling the grant for the third and fourth cow as an extra incentive to the small herd owners in the west of Ireland? I understand it would be difficult to give the grant for the first and second cow and so what I am suggesting is doubling the grant for the third and fourth cow.
I have already said I have not had an opportunity of examining the matter in detail. I did look at it because I have a good deal of sympathy with those who feel it is a pity that the first couple of cows cannot be included in the case of the small producer but, quite frankly, I was appalled at the amount of extra money that would be required in order to do what is being asked. To give an example, if one were to give £16 to each cow up to 20, and full stop there, that in itself would add an extra £1 million to the scheme. I can readily appreciate now why my predecessor did not do anything better in his time. The scheme is expected to cost something in the region of £8½ million in the current financial year.
Mr. Gibbons
The Minister is not contemplating any change at all in the existing scheme then?
I do not want to hold out hope of any magic improvement in it. That is why I have given these further explanations.