asked the Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries if he will take steps to ensure that all farmers irrespective of age will be paid maximum grants for any work carried out on their holdings.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Farm Work Grants.
46.
Under the terms of EEC Directive 159-72 farmers not capable of attaining development status may be granted the same levels of aid as development farmers provided they are not eligible for a retirement pension under Directive 160. Since farmers over 55 are, in fact, eligible for retirement pensions, it follows that these cannot, as the directive stands, qualify for the levels of grant available to development farmers. Subject to this provision all farmers are at present entitled to the maximum levels of grant permitted by Directive 159.
Is it not the case that if a 58 year old farmer sets his land for 11 months during the immediate years ahead he should qualify for the maximum level of grant because he is debarred from qualifying under the retirement scheme?
As the Deputy knows, transitional farmers under 55 years of age are eligible for a 50 per cent grant for land improvements and a 30 per cent grant for fixed assets, including buildings. Those over 55 who are also eligible for retirement benefit may receive grants of 40 per cent for land improvement and 20 per cent for fixed assets. That is in the directive and that is what we must operate.
Deputy Lalor was asking what happens to a 58 year old person who does not qualify to retire?
I do not get the significance of the Deputy's question.
What happens to the man over 58 years of age who sets his land?
The Deputy is directing questions to the Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries which should be directed to another Minister.
In answer to the question the Minister says that the farmer could have it both ways; he cannot. If he is not eligible to retire under Directive 160 at 58——
The Deputy must ask a brief, relevant question.