(Limerick West) asked the Minister for Agriculture as regards the non-payment of headage grants under the disadvantaged areas scheme to farmers whose off-farm income is in excess of a prescribed limit, if he will give an estimate of what the net cost would be to the Irish Exchequer if such farmers were to be paid the normal headage with the EC refund at (i) 50 per cent and (ii) 75 per cent.
Written Answers. - Grant Payments.
128.
If all farmers were paid headage grants under the disadvantaged areas schemes regardless of their off-farm income, the estimated net cost to the Irish Exchequer in the first year would be £6 million. In the second year the net cost would be £5 million with 50 per cent EC recoupment or £3.5 million with 75 per cent EC recoupment. In the third and subsequent years the net cost would be £4 million with 50 per cent EC recoupment or £2 million with 75 per cent EC recoupment.