asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food if an EC scheme is at present in operation in his Department whereby farmers who plant some of their land for forestry, or who sell their land to the Department of Energy and private forestry projects can benefit from a headage payment per hectare in lieu of the loss of acreage to qualify for cattle and sheep headage payments; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Written Answers - Forestry Land.
92.
A scheme has been drawn up by my Department and the Department of Energy whereby farmers who have been receiving livestock headage grants under the disadvantaged areas scheme may be paid a fixed compensatory allowance per hectare for 15 years from the date they afforest all or part of their holdings provided planting grants are also received from the Department of Energy and a minimum acreage is planted.
This scheme has been submitted to the EC Commission for approval and a further announcement will be made when formal approval is given.