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Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 16 Dec 1981

Vol. 331 No. 11

Written Answers. - Disadvantaged Areas Scheme.

732.

asked the Minister for Agriculture if he will outline the "Irish Programme" approved under Article 3 of EEC Regulation 1820/80, indicating the amount of EEC aid received to date under the West of Ireland less-favoured areas scheme.

The programme for the stimulation of agricultural development in the West of Ireland outlines the details of the measures provided for in Regulation (EEC) No. 1820/80.

The programme consists of the following measures:

1. Provision of Electricity Supplies — (a) new supplies to farms; (b) increased supplies to farms; (c) 3-phase supply to farms; (d) supply to agricultural marketing and processing plants; (e) selected network improvements; Aid amounting to 80 per cent of the capital cost of a-d above is available to applicants.

2. Provision of Water Supplies — (a) Private Group Schemes: 80 per cent grants are available to applicants subject to a maximum of £600 per house and £400 per potential farm supply. Higher rates of grant apply in Gaeltacht areas and on populated islands off the west coast; (b) Public Water Schemes: Selected county council schemes will qualify for grants covering 80 per cent of the cost or 90 per cent in Gaeltacht areas.

3. Roads — (a) Local Roads (County Roads); (b) Farm Roads (Access Roads) — 90 per cent grants are available; (c) Forest Roads and Roads Serving Commonages and Mountain and Hill Grazing — 80 per cent grants are available (see Items Nos. 4 and 6 below).

4. Land Improvement — Grants are available to farmers under the following headings: (a) Commonage Division — Fencing, reclamation, surface treatment and access roads; (b) Hill and Mountain Pasture improvement — fencing, reclamation, surface treatment and access roads; (c) Lowland Reclamation (other than drainage which is catered for under the western drainage scheme); Grants — 70 per cent for land improvement; 80 per cent for necessary roads.

5. Orientation of Agricultural Production — This measure is open to all farmers who: (a) practice farming as their main occupation; (b) are not able to attain the comparable income under the farm modernisation scheme; (c) are not eligible to avail of the farm retirement scheme; (d) undertake to follow a farm improvement plan with the emphasis on the expansion of cattle and sheep numbers and keep simplified accounts in the prescribed form from the start of the plan.

The following incentives are available — (a) Grants: 35 per cent for farm buildings, 25 per cent for fixed equipment; (b) Calf to Beef Interest Subsidy: Farmers following improvement plans orientating cattle production towards an integrated calf to beef system can qualify for an interest subsidy not exceeding 16 per cent on a loan of up to £100 per animal for two years on each calf entering the system in the first and second year of the plan.

6. Afforestation — The aim is to encourage private forestry; Forestry Development — Forestry development includes ground preparation, ploughing, drainage planting and fencing; Grants: 85 per cent for farmers, 70 per cent for others; Shelter Belts — Details of this scheme are being finalised at present.

7. Agricultural Training — Training facilities are being improved as follows: (a) 200 additional student places will be provided at agricultural colleges; (b) 22 additional agricultural training centres are being constructed; (c) A resource development centre will be constructed at Athenry where members of the Advisory Service will be given special training.

8. Grants for agricultural marketing and processing — Whilst outside the scope of the Programme, Regulation 1820/80 also provides for a special allocation of £5.2 million each year for three years under the existing FEOGA projects scheme for improving facilities for marketing and processing of agricultural products. The level of grant now applying in the western region is 50 per cent as against 25 per cent elsewhere.

9. Financial Aspects — The FEOGA contribution towards the cost of the measures in the Programme and of the marketing and processing projects is estimated at 224 million ECU. FEOGA will reimburse 50 per cent of State expenditure incurred on the programme.

This may not exceed 40 per cent of the cost in the case of electricity, water supplies or roads.

An advance of £2.714 million is expected from the EEC within the next few days. £0.95 million has already been paid directly by FEOGA to applicants in respect of marketing and processing projects.

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