asked the Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries the amount of money his Department is providing to pay EEC handicapped area grants in 1975 and in 1976; and the amount paid out up to 31st December, 1975.
21.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - EEC Grants.
20.
asked the Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries the amount of money this country will receive from the EEC fund to pay handicapped area grants in 1975 and 1976; and the amount received up to 31st December, 1975.
With the permission of the Ceann Comhairle, I propose to take Questions Nos. 20 and 21 together.
The amount provided for aid to farmers under the EEC disadvantaged areas directive was £10 million in 1975 and £13.5 million for 1976. Of the latter figure it is estimated that about £0.5 million will be required for assisting joint investment projects in hill grazing, fodder production and so forth for which a special scheme will be introduced soon.
Expenditure on headage payments under the EEC scheme during 1975 was approximately £6.5 million. In addition, claims amounting to about £5.4 million were carried over into the current year. Most of these have now been disposed of.
Recoupment from the EEC of expenditure on headage grants will be at the rate of 25 per cent in respect of the 1975 scheme and 35 per cent in respect of the 1976 scheme. No recoupment has yet been received. The procedures for submission of claims have not yet been finally settled by the Commission. It is expected, however, that recoupment will take place on the basis of expenditure in the preceding year.
Is the Parliamentary Secretary saying there is no recoupment yet from the EEC and will not be until the 1975 applications are finally processed?
We will get the 1975 recoupment in 1976. We have to wait a year for recoupment.
What did the Government provide in 1975? Was it £11 million?
It was £11.9 million.
Will that be recouped from the EEC?
We will get 25 per cent and that will be payable later.
What is the projection for 1976?
£13.5 million and the grant will be 35 per cent.
Does that mean that there will be very little extension of the areas?
The extension of the areas does not arise on this question.
It arises under the heading of finance. The Parliamentary Secretary knows well what I mean. Will there be an extension?
The extension does not arise.
Will there be an extension or will more money be paid to the existing applicants?
The question as to whether or not new areas will be brought in will be determined later.
There is an increase of £1¾ million and surely that could not be given until it was known that there would be more areas.
I am calling Question No. 22.
With your permission, I wish to raise this matter on the Adjournment.
What Deputy Meaney has said is very relevant. You cannot extend the designated areas without money.
The Deputy is not asking a question.
What Deputy Meaney asked me was what areas will the scheme be extended to and what areas will be included.
I asked was the increased money going as extra headage to the same areas.
I told the Deputy the money is £13.5 million for this year and we will get 35 per cent for 1976 instead of the 25 per cent we got in 1975. The Deputy can now do his own calculations.