Frank Crowley
Question:21 Mr. Crowley asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry the way in which he proposes to pay for the increase in headage payments, reclassification and extension of disadvantaged areas for 1993.
Written Answers. - Headage Scheme.
John Connor
Question:24 Mr. Connor asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry if his attention has been drawn to the concerns that funding for the various headage schemes to farmers in disadvantaged areas will be reduced under the new EC Structural Fund regime; if he will confirm that pressure for such a reduction exists; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Bernard Allen
Question:87 Mr. Allen asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry if he will confirm that the allocation to headage will not increase over the next number of years.
I propose to take Questions Nos. 21, 24 and 87 together.
Provision in the Estimates is adequate to meet expected expenditure arising under the headage scheme in 1993.
The position as regards Structural Funds for the 1994-1999 period is that no decision that has yet been made by the Government as regards allocations to specific sectors or schemes, including headage. In these circumstances, it will be obvious that decisions have been made either to cut back or grant no increase over the coming years to the headage scheme. My view and, indeed, the view of the EC Council of Ministers, is that these payments make a valuable contribution to the maintenance of populations in rural areas and as such will continue to be funded by the EC Community under the FEOGA guidance element for the Structural Funds. The necessary national Exchequer funding will also be provided.