andMr. Smith asked the Minister for Agriculture if he has any proposals to deal with the serious decline in farmers' incomes in the west of Ireland; and if he will make an increased grant available under the headage scheme for 1981 for severely handicapped regions.
Written Answers. - Farmers' Incomes.
240.
The Government's proposals for restoration of farmers incomes through the reduction of inflation, the expansion of farm output and various aid measures, are set out in detail in the Programme for Government, 1981-1986. Under the programme sheep headage rates in the disadvantaged areas have already been increased up to the maximum allowable under EEC Directive 75/268, as amended and some 90 per cent of these higher grants have been paid to date. The total of headage payments to cattle and sheep owners under the disadvantaged areas schemes will amount to £37.5m in 1981 compared to £28.4m in 1980. This represents an increase of £9.1m or 32 per cent in direct payments of headage grants to farmers in the west and mountain areas in the current year compared to last year.
Question No. 241 postponed.