andMr. Connaughton asked the Minister for Agriculture if he will consider allowing farmers who have part-time jobs and who are in severe financial difficulties to participate in the interest subsidy schemes.
Written Answers. - Interest Subsidy Schemes.
513.
A part-time farmer is eligible for the national 5 per cent interest subsidy scheme provided that his income from an occupation outside farming is less than the national comparable income and provided that the family farm income is not in excess of that figure. The EEC 5 per cent interest subsidy scheme and the reduced interest scheme for farmers in severe financial difficulty are confined to farmers who derive at least 50 per cent of their income from farming and spend more than 50 per cent of their working time on farming activities. Accordingly, farmers with part-time jobs who meet these criteria are not excluded from the benefits of these schemes.