Dan Neville
Question:91 Mr. Neville asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food the number of young farmers who took over farming in the two years prior to 2000 who were being incorporated under the current installation scheme. [22736/02]
Written Answers. - Installation Aid Scheme.
The current installation aid scheme, which was introduced by my Department with effect from 15 February 2001, applies to farmers between the ages of 18 and 35 who have been set up in farming for the first time on or after 1 January 2000. Farmers who were set up in farming for the first time prior to that date are, therefore, ineligible under the current scheme and must apply under the previous scheme, the national scheme of installation aid, which was in force at that time. Applications can be made to a local office of my Department.
Dan Neville
Question:92 Mr. Neville asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food if he will increase the installation aid scheme for farmers to ?12,500. [22737/02]
The level of grant currently payable to young farmers under the installation aid scheme is €9,523 which, when introduced on 15 February 2001, represented a 34% increase on the premium payable under the previous scheme. I have no plans at present to apply to the European Commission for approval to further increase the level of this grant.