Vol. 479 No. 2
328 Mr. J. Walsh asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry the proposals, if any, he has regarding the payment of headage after 1 January 1998 to farmers over 66 years who are in receipt of a contributory pension. [12633/97]
The background leading to the proposed changes to the compensatory headage payments was outlined in detail to the Deputy on 7 May, Questions Nos. 218 and 219. As regards the particular proposals to disallow headage payments to farmers who are over 66 years of age in receipt of a contributory pension on 1 January 1998, the position is that such farmers are not eligible to participate in the scheme in accordance with the terms of Council Regulation 2328/91 which states that "expenditure in respect of compensatory allowances shall not be eligible for part-financing by the fund where the farmer is in receipt of a retirement or early-retirement pension".
