asked the Minister for Agriculture if he will amend the farm improvement programme to ensure that farmers finding it necessary to re-adjust their uncompleted proposals under the farm modernisation western package or western drainage schemes, will not be deterred from proceeding with new or adjusted proposals under the farm improvement programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Farm Improvement Programme.
7.
The completion of a development plan taken out under the farm modernisation scheme (FMS) is one of the main conditions of Directive 72/159 on which the scheme was based. Failure to complete a development plan would result in the development farmer losing entitlement to grant aid under the plan and make him liable to repay any grants already received. Any EC moneys received for investments carried out under the plan would also have to be refunded by the State.
However, I am looking into the possibility of allowing farmers to participate in the farm improvement programme who have effectively completed their FMS development plans even though the plans have still some time to run.
The same position applies under the programme for western development in relation to plans taken out under the orientation of agriculture production scheme. Farmers who carry out work under the western drainage scheme are not affected as they are not required to take out a farm plan.
This is very disappointing news. The Minister is still considering changing the scheme even though he has been requested very often to do so. Would the Minister agree that because of the super-levy and the disease levy, particularly the money available for reactors, farmers have been the victims of super-levy quotas, have been suffering animal loss and have to readjust their farm patterns? As a result, they cannot complete the development programme which they entered into originally. Would the Minister consider amending the scheme so that they do not have to complete the old scheme and would he allow them to proceed with the new adjusted scheme?
As the Deputy is well aware in any new national scheme which is undertaken, such as the farm improvement scheme which I introduced earlier this year, it takes a certain length of time for all the little warts to be ironed out. We had them under the farm modernisation scheme and it was not for four or five months but for seven or eight years as the Deputy will be well aware.
(Limerick West): The Minister will not be here for that length of time.
We brought in a better scheme in place of it.
Who suspended that scheme?
What is wrong with you guys is that the scheme is working too well. As can be seen from the applications at the FDS offices around the country there is a live subsidy on the farm improvement programme. For the information of the Deputies, to come back to a technical point, there is no need for plans under the western drainage scheme. I am looking at a number of points vis-à-vis where a farmer was involved in the farm modernisation scheme in order to see what can be done to allow him to take part in the farm improvement programme. There are a number of points currently under review and I hope to make an announcement shortly about some of them. Some cannot be changed but some can.
Deputy Gay Mitchell.
A Cheann Comhairle——
I am not going to allow all the people who are offering.
Will the Minister confirm that a person who did phase one of the old western drainage scheme and who because of the inclement weather cannot complete phase two is now debarred under the new farm improvement programme from proceeding? Is the Minister prepared to extend the western drainage scheme for at least 12 months to allow farmers complete the work which they could not carry out due to the inclement weather of the past two years?
They could not get the machinery on the land. That land has been destroyed for ever.
That is a separate question.
The Minister dismissed the western drainage scheme as being irrelevant.
The EC have been asked by the Department to permit an extension of the old western drainage scheme and we must await their decision.
When was the question put to the EC?
Several months ago. We always have a problem about planning in Irish farming because farmers when half way through a plan want to change course. In some cases after farmers and agricultural advisers have decided on a plan the farmers change course. It is extremely difficult to cater for such groups but we are looking into the matter.
When does the Minister expect a response from Brussels?
I cannot say.
Does the Minister expect a reply this year?
In a few months' time.