asked the Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries whether he will give grants to either full-time or part-time agricultural contractors who are willing to service small farmers who will not obtain grants for mobile equipment, in view of the fact that large contractors tend to service the larger or commercial farmers.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Agricultural Equipment Grants.
31.
I do not propose to introduce any additional grants for the purchase of equipment by agricultural contractors.
This is the awkward position here. The Minister is well aware that if there are not going to be any additional grants or if he has no intention of granting any additional grants the smallholder is gone. If he would read the Cork Examiner of today, the Bishop of Cork explained clearly the position of the small farmer in Cork at the present time. That is a highly important question.
(Interruptions.)
The only scheme that was in existence for grant aid for equipment when the last Government were in power was for forage harvesters.
This Government promised all types of grants and they are giving nothing to the small farmer.
And we have added to that grants for slurry disposal equipment.