asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food if his attention has been drawn to the findings of a survey, carried out recently with the assistance of Teagasc in the mid-western region, regarding small farmers whose incomes are below the poverty line.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Income of Small Farmers.
16.
I am aware of the information provided by Teagasc to the working party engaged on the preparation of a plan for the mid-west region under the new arrangements for the operation of the Structural Funds. I can assure the Deputy that the situation as ascertained will be borne in mind in the finalisation of the plan.
It is rather startling that smallholders are to be crushed out of the agricultural system. Much of this poverty straddles the Minister's constituency and mine. Would the Minister consider extending the disadvantaged areas to include some of those people who are severely handicapped?
I agree that the income disparity which emerges from the survey conducted by Teagasc is a matter of very considerable concern. In many ways it is in line with the disparity throughout the country, where the small income farmer is very much at a disadvantage by comparison with the big income farmer. Regarding the mid-western region, two things will be evident. In the immediate area we have put in place one of the pilot programmes for integrated rural development. We are the only country in Europe to have done so and we are thus ahead of any other country. When the Commission introduce next year proposals for rural development generally across a range of areas including agri-tourism, headage payments for horses etc. — Commissioner MacSharry will have this responsibility — we will already have in place the necessary programme in areas like this. Regarding disadvantaged areas, I could not but agree with Deputy Clohessy. Every Deputy from the region has been in touch with me in that connection. We will be trying to extend the existing disadvantaged areas there, as elsewhere, and to reclassify mildly handicapped areas as severely handicapped.
I should be more than thankful for anything the Minister could offer in this area because over the past couple of years — on account of severe flooding — those farmers have lost everything, their crops, hay, fodder, and undoubtedly they are in need of help at present.
Is the Minister aware of the present stringent guidelines being operated by the Department of Social Welfare rendering small farmers just below the poverty line ineligible for small farmers' assistance? Would he agree that it appears to constitute an attack on those people experiencing great difficulty in surviving?
The only thing of which I am aware in respect of social welfare application to people in rural areas is that — as the Minister for Social Welfare announced recently — he has reviewed the guidelines for payments to the advantage of rural areas in order to bring them into line with others. If the Deputy has any particular cases he feels he wants to bring to my attention — which appear to be the responsibility of another Minister — I will transmit them to the relevant Minister. The short answer is that I am not aware because it is not my responsibility.
Perhaps the Minister would have a word with his Cabinet colleague?
Is the Minister aware that there has been a more recent study undertaken than that referred to in the question, namely, one concluded by a Shannon development study group in the past few weeks? Furthermore, is he aware that there was a meeting called in the Woodlands Hotel in Adare on 13 February, 1989 to discuss the outcome of that latest study, when Professor Séamus Sheehy, the well-known agricultural expert, stated that the conclusion of the Shannon development study was that dairy farmers in the mid-west were now "living in the sun" because of the phenomenal success of production last year? Is he aware also that as a result of these developments land prices in the mid-west region have rocketed over the past three months and that there was a report in the Limerick Leader of 25 February 1989 concerning the sale of a farm in a parish adjoining Deputy Clohessy's home parish, which farm did not have a milk quota——
The Deputy is introducing much extraneous matter.
Would the Minister assure the House that he and the Government will continue their enlightened, progressive policies which have rendered such improvements possible in my region?
A copy of that speech should be sent to the Taoiseach.
(Interruptions.)
It will not surprise the House that I am very glad to give that assurance to Deputy O'Dea: what has been an unprecedented income increase for our farmers over the past two years — unprecedented in terms of this or any other country in Europe, about which we are very happy — will be a continuing priority of ours. I want to assure the Deputy of that.
Deputy O'Dea has endeared himself with that speech.
The Deputy spoke about dairy farmers living in the sun, which is certainly the case. What we are endeavouring to do is ensure that the sunshine spreads to all aspects of agriculture. We are reasonably confident we can do so.
A Cheann Comhairle, I see Deputy O'Dea going to Cappamore and such places telling people how badly off they are.