Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 4 Mar 1992

Vol. 416 No. 7

Ceisteanna — Questions. Oral Answers. - Grant Payments Eligibility.

Austin Deasy

Question:

3 Mr. Deasy asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food if he will consult with his colleague the Minister for Finance, to ensure that farmers who do not have a tax number at present will be paid headage premia and subsidies on an up-to-date basis and that they will be allowed at least a year to get their tax affairs in order and that no such requirement will be placed on farmers who received less than £2,000 per annum in such payments and who have been means-tested for and granted social welfare allowances.

Peadar Clohessy

Question:

56 Mr. Clohessy asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food if he has any immediate plans to change the agreement that farmers must have an RSI number in order to claim cattle and sheep headage payments.

Michael Finucane

Question:

64 Mr. Finucane asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food the reason it is considered necessary for farmers who have to undergo a rigorous means test for unemployment assistance and who are in receipt of unemployment assistance to have a PRSI number for eligibility for headage grants; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

John Connor

Question:

105 Mr. Connor asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food if he will waive the requirement on farmers in disadvantaged areas to have tax and PRSI clearance in order to qualify for all 1992 livestock headage, beef premium, suckler cow schemes and sheep grants, in view of the fact that it will be impossible for the Revenue Commisioners to deal with all the applications and because tax clearance will be unnecessary in most cases since all farmers in the disadvantaged category do not have a taxable income.

Madeleine Taylor-Quinn

Question:

106 Mrs. Taylor-Quinn asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food if he will accept a qualification certificate number from smallholders who are in receipt of social welfare as proof of nontaxable income; and if grant payments will be made on presentation of such a number.

Minister for Agriculture and Food (Mr. Walsh)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 3, 56, 64, 105 and 106 together.

I am acutely aware of the problems for farmers in relation to the tax clearance requirement in the area of headage premia in the current year. I am, therefore, very happy to say that at my instigation, the Government have now decided to relax the requirement in respect of applications under disadvantaged areas schemes in 1992 and 1993. The requirement to supply the tax reference number in these cases is now being postponed to 1 January 1994.

I believe that the Government's decision recognises the reality that most recipients of payments under disadvantaged areas schemes have low incomes and that additional time is needed to allow them to adjust to the new tax clearance arrangements.

The Government's decision is particularly important for farmers who must lodge their 1992 sheep headage and ewe premium applications by the closing date of Friday next 6 March 1992. I had, of course, made it clear that such applications could be submitted without the Revenue tax number in any event.

Mr. Deasy

I welcome the Minister's announcement that the requirement to supply this tax number has been postponed for two years. Is the Minister prepared to extend the application date? Many farmers have been confused. I do not believe there will be a full quota of people applying before next Friday. I would ask for another three months because of the confusion this episode has caused.

Mr. Walsh

I have already sent out circulars and put a public notice in the newspapers that applicants should, in any event, submit their application forms without the tax revenue number. There should be no confusion. Farmers know very well that there are closing dates and deadlines in these matters.

Nevertheless, I will have a look at it to see whether there is anything further I can do.

Mr. Deasy

Will people who are not on social welfare also have to submit their tax number with their application on this occasion?

Mr. Harte

Is it global?

Mr. Walsh

It applies to people living in disadvantaged areas and those applying for premia across the board.

Mr. Deasy

Everybody in disadvantaged areas?

An Ceann Comhairle

I am calling Question No. 4.

Mr. Walsh

On the last question I went a little further than the Deputies asked and I hope to be able to do the same in the remainder of the questions.

Mr. Harte

We should put it on record that the Minister met the question openly and fairly.

An Ceann Comhairle

Deputy Harte has no questions down for priority and he may not intervene.