Vol. 395 No. 7
15 Mr. Connor asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food if he has sought changes in the restrictive regulations governing the application of installation aid for young farmers in Ireland at the recent farm talks in Brussels; the regulations which he sought to have changed; and the success, if any, which he has had in changing the regulations.
When the scheme governing installation aid for young farmers was reviewed by the EC Council last year I pressed for a reduction in the labour unit requirement for eligibility at the time of installation from one man work unit to 0.5 man work unit. This change would have the effect of extending the benefits of the scheme to a greater number of applicants. In the event, the Community agreed that an applicant could be given two years from the date of installation to attain the labour requirement of one man work unit.
I am sure the Minister will agree that it is not necessarily the labour units which are the major problem in this scheme. Would the Minister not agree that about 30 per cent of the applicants for this aid were rendered ineligible because of the inflexibility of the regulations?
I do not have the percentage Deputy Connor quoted but I am sure that information can be procured if he puts down a further question on the matter.
Will serious consideration——
Deputy Jimmy Leonard is offering.
The concessions the Minister obtained last year were vital to this scheme but there are still some anomalies in it. I know of a young farmer who has all the necessary educational qualifications to qualify for aid but because an uncle bequeathed five acres of land to him he was regarded as having land of his own, even though it is part of the family farm. I ask the Minister to examine the anomaly which exists between land which is handed down and that which is purchased. This young man will be debarred from receiving aid under this scheme because of a mere five acres.
Cases such as the one Deputy Leonard has referred to need to be examined and, if possible, changes effected.
Can the Minister——
May I——
The Deputy who tabled the question, Deputy John Connor, is offering again.
I would refer the Minister to my original comment about the 30 per cent of farmers who are being rendered ineligible for aid. Is the Minister not worried about that figure? Like Deputy Leonard, I know of a young farmer who, because of a lack of funds, was two months late commencing his Teagasc course and because of the time limit on the course he was rendered ineligible for aid. Would the Minister not agree that that is ridiculous? That is the kind of thing he should be seeking to change.
I am not aware of any such instances but the case referred to by Deputy Connor may be right. I will consider the sentiments expressed by the Deputy.
Deputy Connaughton, Deputy Creed and Deputy Hogan are offering. If the Deputies are brief I will be glad to facilitate them.
The maze of problems in relation to installation aid cannot be laid at the Minister's feet; these problems existed from the beginning. The Department should, if possible, carry out some review into this scheme. As Deputy Connor said, it can be nearly six to eight months before an applicant for aid is told what is wrong with his application and these problems can continue for two or three years. It would be of great benefit to young people entering farming if they could be told from the outset exactly what is wrong with their application so that it can be reassessed. I believe that is where the major blockage lies.
I will bear in mind what Deputy Connaughton has said.
Let us proceed by way of supplementary questions.
Would the Minister not agree that in trying to resolve the problems referred to in this question, and at a time when GATT negotiations and negotiations on prices, an extension of disadvantaged areas, etc., are under way, it is imperative that the agricultural industry be represented at the Cabinet table, which it is not at present?
Again I must ask the Deputy to apply his mind to the question on the Order Paper.
That question has nothing to do with the question asked.
It has nothing to do with the Cabinet table either.
Order, please.
Would the Minister not accept that there is a great tardiness and delay in paying the installation aid to eligible applicants? Will he take steps to rectify this? I know of a case where land has been transferred to two brothers but both have been rendered ineligible for aid because one has an off-farm income. Will the Minister investigate this matter?
If the Deputy sends me the particulars of the case he has referred to I will have a look at it.
In relation to the installation aid scheme, given the very long delays in processing applications in the Land Registry, under the aegis of a different Department, would the Minister of State give an undertaking to consider paying the grant on the production of the stamped deed of transfer rather than wait for the land deal in the Land Registry to be completed in view of the fact that ownership has been transferred once the deed has been stamped and the delays in the processing of applications are a source of difficulty for many farmers?
Whose fault is that?
I will consider that.
