Vol. 486 No. 3
115 Mr. Perry asked the Minister for Public Enterprise if her attention has been drawn to the anomaly that exists in the farm electrification grant scheme based on information (details supplied); the steps, if any, which will be taken to resolve the problems; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2737/98]
The farm electrification grants scheme is designed to subsidise the installation of electricity to farms which previously had no supply or where supply is inadequate in order to facilitate the development and modernisation of farms in disadvantaged areas of the country. The scheme, in the first instance, has been designed as one of a number of measures, to redress the disadvantages caused to certain farmers by poor land, small holdings and remoteness from stronger electricity networks.
One of the conditions of this scheme is that farming must be the applicant's main occupation and principal source of income. For the purposes of the scheme "An eligible person shall be deemed to have farming, as his-her main occupation, if at least 50 per cent of the income is gained from farming (subject to the allowable off-farm income) and more than 50 per cent of his working time is spent on farming activities".
The scheme recognises the need for certain farmers to sustain themselves through part-time work and to this end allows off-farm income in certain cases to be reckoned up to a maximum of £16,000. Farm income, however, must still exceed off-farm income to fulfil the qualification criteria.
A sympathetic approach has been adopted in the case of start-up farmers who may, initially, not have the financial resources to provide for themselves from farming. In these cases, my Department accepts a farm plan, detailing farming activities and projected income for the next five years as evidence of farming. In these circumstances and in the light of the information supplied by the Deputy, I will arrange for a re-examination of the position if he will provide me with specific details of the applicant involved.
