asked the Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries if he will ensure that future regional policy will be such as to permit part-time farmers in designated areas, where industry is being developed, to avail of the grants and incentives offered to modernisation and transitional farmers.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Part-time Farmers.
17.
To be eligible for the development category under the farm modernisation scheme a farmer must have farming as his main occupation. This means that farming must occupy at least 50 per cent of his time and produce more than 50 per cent of his income. In addition, the farm must be capable at the end of the development plan of producing the full comparable income for at least one labour unit.
These conditions do not apply to the transitional farmer and there is, therefore, no reason, even in areas where industrial employment is available, why such farmers who may continue to depend on farming for an important part of their income, should not receive the appropriate grants under the scheme.
Is there any doubt that in the implementation of those sections of the scheme those people will be entitled to the same facilities as the transitional farmer?
No doubt. The Deputy knows that we are getting no part of the cost in the case of the transitional farmers from Brussels.
Would the Minister say that the labour unit of 1,800 is slightly above the national average for industrial workers? There is a question of disqualification unless you make that grade.
We tried to get that down to 1,600.
I understand 1,400 is the national average.
The Commission would not accept it. They had their own figures and examined them and they insisted on putting the level at 1,800. We could do nothing about it.
Is there any possibility of making further representations on this point—I know the Minister is doing his best—because it cuts out many people? Even with the new wage agreement I understand the national average——
I again ask the Deputy not to make statements. Deputy Collins for a final supplementary.
Could the Minister say now that in the case of small farmers who derive portion of their income from farmyard activities such as pig and poultry production, such income will be regarded as agricultural income?
It has always been so regarded and I see no reason to think that would be changed.
What about farmhouse holidays?
Could the Minister say what will be the position of those part-time farmers when the transitional stage is over in 1977? Would the Minister take particular interest in this aspect of the problem because by 1977 those people will not be entitled to any aid unless they are included under the regional policy?
I am quite confident that something will take the place of the present transitional grants that are available to these farmers. They just cannot be abandoned after 1977.