Vol. 435 No. 1
15 Mr. Molloy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry the prospects for increasing headage payments to low income farm families in existing disadvantaged areas under the proposals for agriculture contained in the National Development Plan 1994-1999.
42 Miss Quill asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry whether the National Development Plan 1994-1999, provides for increases in headage payments to individual farmers during the period of the Plan; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
I propose to take Questions Nos. 15 and 42 together.
The National Development Plan which has just been published is a strategic document which sets out broad objectives for the Agriculture, Food and Forestry area and for the various other sectors such as industry, tourism, local development, human resources, infrastructures etc.
Within the agriculture sector, income support has been identified as one of the priority areas for assistance under the plan and substantially increased funding is earmarked for headage payments over the next six years. My Department is now drawing up the operational programmes to take on board the various priorities we have identified and these will be the subject of consultation and negotiation with the EC Commission.
I am confident that the level of funding for the headage scheme over the lifetime of the plan will accommodate the increased payment rates introduced in 1992 which resulted in a 25 per cent increase in total headage payments and also the outcome of the appeals panel which should result in payment increases for a number of low income farm families.
Funding for headage payments cannot of course be considered in isolation from the needs for Structural Funds support for other equally important areas such as on-farm investment for dairy hygiene and pollution control purposes, the food industry, rural development and forestry. Any further increases to farmers, therefore, including low income farm families, would have to be considered by reference to other competing needs.
