asked the Minister for Agriculture the steps he is taking to modify the present accounts system under the Farm Modernisation Scheme.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Farm Modernisation Scheme.
24.
In order to qualify for payment of the appropriate grant under the Farm Modernisation Scheme, farm accounts must be capable of yielding the essential farm management data prescribed in EEC Directive 159/72.
The farm account book issued by my Department is suitable for this purpose or, alternatively, farmers may avail of the services offered by those commercial organisations whose accounting systems have been approved by the Department.
I do not contemplate any immediate change in these arrangements.
Is the Minister satisfied that the accounts which are at present required of farmers are as simple and straightforward as they could possibly be? Would he not at least consider the possibility of asking a county agricultural officer, a farmer and perhaps one other person to have a look at these accounts to see if they could be simplified to some greater extent than at present and make a submission to the EEC to that effect?
I do not agree that the present account book as provided by the Department of Agriculture is unduly complicated or beyond the comprehnsion of any person of normal intelligence. I am also aware that it is becoming increasingly necessary for all farmers, in order to carry out their business in the proper way, to keep proper accounts.
25.
asked the Minister for Agriculture the recommendations he is making to the EEC Commissioner for Agriculture with a view to making necessary changes in the Farm Modernisation Scheme.
26.
asked the Minister for Agriculture if and when it is intended to carry out a review of the Farm Modernisation Scheme in this country.
With the permission of the Ceann Comhairle, I propose to take Questions Nos. 25 and 26 together.
Proposals for amendment of the Farm Modernisation Directive have recently been put forward by the EEC Commission. These are at present being examined in Brussels by officials of the member states and will be considered by the Council of Ministers during the next few months. In the Ministerial and official discussions and negotiations it will be the Irish aim to have the directive so modified that farmers who are likely to remain dependent on farming for their livelihood will receive the highest possible levels of investment aid for the development of their holdings.
As soon as the Council of Ministers has agreed on a revision of the directive appropriate changes will be made in the Farm Modernisation Scheme here. In this connection the operation of the scheme has in fact already been under examination so that necessary changes could be made with the minimum of delay.
Has the Minister or his Department made any detailed submission to the EEC regarding the type of farm modernisation scheme they would like? Is the Minister prepared to accept the EEC proposal that all farmers, including those in the other category, would have to keep accounts to get grants if he is accepting the EEC proposal that a ceiling be imposed on the present level of grants for people in the other category?
The Department of Agriculture have made several detailed recommendations how the Irish Government would wish the changes being made in the Farm Modernisation Directive to take shape. With regard to the other part of the Deputy's Question, I am not aware that it has been suggested by anybody that all landowners, regardless of their size, be required to keep accounts. It is the aim of the Department of Agriculture to secure a situation where the greatest possible number of people will be considered as development farmers. As I said in my reply, these proposals will come up for detailed discussion by the Council of Ministers in the coming months.
Would the Minister not agree that the EEC have proposed that all farmers in the other category in order to get grants—not all land-owners—must keep accounts to get aid? Would he further agree that the proposals as drafted and promulgated by the EEC are out of sympathy with Irish requirements and should be opposed strenuously by him?
I agree with the Deputy that there are many things in the Commission's proposals that we would like to see corrected and we will be seeking correction in those areas.
I put down a question last week to the Minister for Industry, Commerce and Energy which I asked to be taken as a Private Notice Question and I am now told it will not even get on to the agenda for this week, because of some confusion in the Department. In those circumstances, Sir, I ask your permission to raise the matter on the Adjournment.
I will communicate with the Deputy in the afternoon. The remaining questions will appear on tomorrow's Order Paper.