Dick Spring
Question:26 Mr. Spring asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food when an installation aid scheme for young farmers will be introduced. [19289/97]
Written Answers. - Installation Aid.
Jim O'Keeffe
Question:40 Mr. J. O'Keeffe asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food the way in which he will encourage young farmers to set up in farming; and the additional resources, if any, he will provide to assist in the achievement of this objective. [19423/97]
Ruairí Quinn
Question:45 Mr. Quinn asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food the steps, if any, he has taken in the past month to reverse his decision to suspend the installation aid scheme for young farmers, which played a vital role in the restructuring of Irish agriculture; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19472/97]
Jim O'Keeffe
Question:52 Mr. J. O'Keeffe asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food whether his attention has been drawn to a communication sent to Macra na Feirme on 21 May 1997 containing a commitment to the continuation of the installation aid scheme in view of the fact that the scheme was important not only to young farmers but to the general profile of agriculture; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19424/97]
Bernard J. Durkan
Question:77 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food if his attention has been drawn to young farmers requirements in relation to installation aid; the likely number of such applicants in the event of the availability of aid under this heading; the proposals, if any, he has to address the issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19448/97]
Pádraic McCormack
Question:108 Mr. McCormack asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food the current position regarding the Government's plans for the reintroduction of the installation aid scheme for farmers which has been in operation since 1987; the proposals, if any, the Government has to reintroduce this scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19361/97]
Pádraic McCormack
Question:112 Mr. McCormack asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food the current position regarding the Government's plans for the reintroduction of the installation aid scheme for farmers which has been in operation since 1987; if the Government will reintroduce this scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19380/97]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 26, 40, 45, 52, 77, 108 and 112 together.
The Government is committed to supporting young farmers to set up in farming and a number of measures are in operation which facilitate this objective. Young farmers' needs are taken into account in the allocation of quota rights in the milk, suckler cow and sheep sectors, stamp duty reliefs for inheriting young farmers and the stock relief available for income tax purposes.
The early transfer of farms to young farmers facilitated by the scheme of early retirement from farming which is now costing £65 million annually is also of major benefit to the young inheriting farmers.
The scheme of installation aid for young farmers has been another element of these supports and over the last three years over £18 million has been paid out to participating young farmers. All available funding for the scheme in the Operational Programme for Agriculture, Rural Development and Forestry has been exhausted and it was not possible to secure additional funding in the mid-term review of the Structural Funds. My Department is now engaged in a full review of the scheme and is in discussions with the Department of Finance.