asked the Minister for Agriculture the total amount of money made available for installation grants in 1986; if he will ensure that these grants will be made available to young farmers in the west of Ireland; if he will direct that the condition whereby one labour unit is necessary for qualification for these grants will be waived for all farmers in the western development/ package areas; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Written Answers. - Farm Aids.
107.
An amount of £9.7 million has been provided in the 1986 Estimates for the farm improvement programme, aids for young farmers and the farm modernisation scheme.
The installation premium for young farmers, which will be operative shortly, will be available to eligible applicants in all areas, including the west of Ireland.
Regulation (EEC) No. 797/85 provides that, to qualify for an installation premium, a young farmer must have been installed on a holding with a minimum labour requirement of one man work unit. As this is an EC requirement, I have no discretion in the matter.