Ivan Yates
Question:133 Mr. Yates asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food the proposals, if any, he has to introduce greater flexibility into the agricultural installation premium scheme by adjusting the labour unit requirements.
Written Answers. - Installation Premium Scheme.
When the Regulation governing this particular measure was last before the EC Council for amendment, Ireland pressed to have the labour requirement reduced from one man work unit to 0.5 of a man work unit. The request was not accepted by the Council. The Council, however, agreed that future applicants would have up to two years within which to satisfy the labour requirement. It was also agreed that part-time farmers would qualify for the premium on becoming full-time farmers. These amendments — which are now in operation here — should enable the benefits of the scheme to be extended to a greater number of young farmers.