asked the Minister for Lands if he will indicate the basic requirements laid down by the EEC under directive 160 in respect of the retirement scheme for farmers.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Farmers Retirement Scheme.
12.
In order to answer this question fully it would be necessary to provide a summary of the relevant EEC directive and the reply would necessarily be quite lengthy. I am therefore arranging to have a copy of the directive sent to the Deputy, and if on receipt thereof he finds that there is any point on which he would like clarification I will be glad to furnish him with all available information on request.
13.
asked the Minister for Lands whether small farmers and transitional farmers will not receive additions to holdings in areas where there are sufficient development farmers to take up all lands coming available under the farmers' voluntary retirement scheme.
Under EEC Directive 160 farmers with approved development plans which provide for the acquisition of extra land must have priority in the allotment of lands released under the farmers' retirement scheme. The lands may also be used for afforestation, recreational activities, public health or other public purposes. Lands purchased by the Land Commission under the retirement scheme which are not needed for these purposes may be allotted to other categories of applicants but in such instances subvention of retirement annuities from EEC funds will not be forthcoming.
This retirement scheme is intended to supplement and not to supersede the traditional land intake programme of the Land Commission. I have repeatedly stressed that the existing methods of land acquisition and purchase by the Land Commission will be maintained so as to ensure that eligible smallholders will continue to have access to land required to bring their holdings to an economic level.
Would the Parliamentary Secretary agree that the amount of money available to the Land Commission to implement this scheme which gives preference to developing farmers is not sufficient to buy land at the moment? Will he also agree that the money to implement both schemes is very scarce?
The Minister is giving this scheme special attention. Both the Minister and the Land Commission are anxious to acquire as much land as possible for allotment to deserving applicants in order to bring their farms to an economic level wherever possible. I am sure that will apply in the Deputy's constituency as well as other areas.
Question No. 14.
According to the directive, a development farmer must get preference in regard to land acquired under a retirement scheme. I claim that if the Minister implements——
The Deputy must ask a question.
The amount of money available to the Land Commission to acquire land——
That point has already been made.
If and when more land than anticipated becomes available, I have no doubt that the Minister will take the necessary steps to meet such a situation.
Question No. 14.
Does the Parliamentary Secretary really think that the Land Commission regard small holders——
A question please, Deputy.
Who is the Parliamentary Secretary trying to "cod". The small holders who have areas——
The Deputy is continuing to make a statement.
I am not. What are the Land Commission doing with the small holders they have at present in north-east Cork?
That is a very broad issue to raise now. The Deputy will have to find another opportunity to raise this matter.