asked the Minister for Agriculture the total number of farmers in each county, throughout the country, in arrears to the Irish Land Commission, as at 31 May 1986; the total amount of money due; and if he will make a statement on this urgent serious matter.
Written Answers. - Land Commission Arrears.
73.
At 30 April 1986 the latest date for which figures are available £2,923,000 was owed by 33,739 farmers. Details by county are not readily available at present but will be furnished to the Deputy as soon as possible.
The main reasons for the arrears are:—
(i) high annuities resulting from the high prices that had to be paid for land by the Land Commission in the late seventies and early eighties together with high interest rates which prevailed at the time.
(ii) poor weather conditions over the past year;
(iii) overborrowing in certain cases from the lending institutions.
Where a farmer in arrears is in serious financial difficulties, the Land Commission is prepared to make some arrangement with him for payment.