Liam Aylward
Question:112 Mr. Aylward asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food if installation aid for young farmers of up to £19,600 is now available; and if so, the qualifying conditions for payment. [7780/98]
Written Answers. - Installation Aid.
Liam Aylward
Question:138 Mr. Aylward asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food if he will confirm recent proposals from Brussels that installation aid for young farmers of up to £19,600 is now available; and the qualifying conditions for this payment. [7064/98]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 112 and 138 together.
In preparation for the next round of Structural Funds for the period 2000-06, the European Commission has drafted proposals on support for various areas of rural development, including support for installation aid for young farmers, which would come into force in the year 2000.
These proposals provide for an increase in the maximum premium which could be payable from the existing level of 15,000 ECU, approximately £11,850, to 25,000 ECU, approximately £19,750.
Ireland paid a rate of £5,600 to eligible applicants up to the suspension of the scheme in Ireland in August 1997 when all available funds were fully committed.
Two independent evaluations of our scheme recommended that it should be either suspended altogether or better targeted at smaller farmers. A new more tightly focused scheme, on which discussions are currently ongoing with the various farming organisations, will be drawn up in 1998.
As regards the new draft proposals, extensive negotiations with all member states will have to take place before they are finally approved and it is too early at this stage to anticipate the final outcome.
Liam Aylward
Question:113 Mr. Aylward asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food the progress, if any, being made with the farming organisations regarding the scheme of installation aid for young farmers; and when the new scheme will be implemented. [7781/98]
Liam Aylward
Question:139 Mr. Aylward asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food the progress being made with the farming organisations regarding the scheme of installation aid for young farmers; and when the new scheme will be implemented. [7065/98]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 113 and 139 together.
There have been some discussions with representatives of Macra na Feirme and the IFA on the revised scheme of installation aid and a meeting with the ICMSA has been arranaged for later this week.
No final decisions on the revised scheme will be taken until consultations with the various farming organisations are completed. The scheme will then require the approval of the Department of Finance and the EU Commission before implementation.