asked the Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries if he intends to implement the small farm plan submitted by the NFA or any modified form of this plan.
84.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Small Farm Development.
83.
asked the Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries if his attention has been drawn to reports regarding consideration of the grading of grants for farmers on the basis of valuation or size of holdings; if he has discussed this change with agricultural organisations in the past 14 days; what form his discussions have taken; and if he will now indicate what his intentions are.
85.
asked the Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries if his attention has been drawn to reports regarding consideration of a small farms policy; if such a policy is being formulated; if it is related to the small farmers plan submitted by the NFA; when he started to consider this plan; in consultation with what agricultural organisation he considered it; and if agreement was reached with these organisations.
With your permission, a Cheann Comhairle, I propose to take Questions Nos. 83, 84 and 85 together.
My attention has been drawn to press reports on the subjects mentioned in Deputy Donegan's questions.
Following a general review of the position recently with the Western Agricultural Council, I have prepared a comprehensive programme of small farm development which I will shortly be submitting to the Government. In the course of this examination I have considered in detail the proposals submitted by the NFA. There is, however, a fairly wide measure of agreement that these proposals could not be implemented in the form in which they were submitted to me.
My Department's Small Farms Division has, in addition, for some time been reviewing all the schemes administered by my Department to see how they can be oriented more toward small farmers and to enable them to avail of them more readily. Some changes along these lines have already been introduced.
Measures introduced in recent years for the general benefit of the small farmer, particularly in the west of Ireland, include the following:
The establishment of a Pilot Area in each of the 12 western counties;
the setting up of the Western Regional Office of the Department;
the setting up of the Western Agriculture Consultative Council;
the increase from 50 per cent to 75 per cent in the grant to Western County Committees of Agriculture to help expand the Advisory Services;
the granting of additional powers to the Land Commission under the 1965 Land Act to enable them to relieve congestion and improve farm structures;
increased Land Project grants;
the encouragement of Dairying and the provision of grants for new creameries in the west;
the encouragement of the spread of co-operation;
increased grants for piggeries on small farms;
headage grant for sows;
easier credit facilities;
a change in the Unemployment Assistance code to benefit small Western farmers;
the hill sheep schemes, and
the experimental scheme in Glencolumbkille being operated with State grants and loans.
This is a speech.
It is a reply to a question.
My question did not ask for a list of things being done at the moment. I asked a plain question: did the Minister intend to bring in a small farms scheme?
I have given the answer.
I got no answer to my question.
I said that following a general review of the position recently with the Western Agricultural Council I have prepared a comprehensive programme of small farm development which I shall shortly be submitting to the Government.
Shortly?
Might I inquire whether this includes the small farmers of the West, in view of the fact that they are outside the gates in Merrion Street?
May I ask the Minister to be a little more precise than "shortly"? Terms were used today which could mean anything from one month to ten months.
Did the Minister tell us in his long diatribe where the easier credit facilities are available? He has blown up the pilot scheme but the extra cost is one-tenth of a penny on cigarettes, £100,000.
The Deputy is confusing separate things. In the past 12 months a number of special schemes have been introduced to make credit more readily and more easily available to the small farmers in the West.
(Cavan): The Minister did not tell us what benefits he conferred on the small farmers in the past 14 days.
Apart from the Minister asking the NFA to submit a memorandum before meeting them, would he not invite the NFA to discuss with him the type of plan he mentioned in reply to Deputy Clinton today?
As I have said, I am very anxious to discuss this and all other aspects of agricultural policy with the NFA. It is my earnest desire that arrangements can be made——
Would it not be a solution to the impasse to invite the NFA and the ICMSA to discuss——
I understand that the ICMSA have a separate plan which they propose to put before me.
Could both plans not be discussed at a meeting arranged?
There is no difficulty at all about the NFA coming to see me and discussing any aspect of agricultural policy. As the Taoiseach has pointed out, all that is necessary is for them to leave the steps of my Department and, with a view to arranging a meeting——
Apart from the rights or wrongs of sleeping out in Merrion Street, would the Minister not consider this as a solution to the whole business: that he would invite the three organisations, separately or together? Would the Minister consider that?
The Minister has just made a statement which is very important. Would the Minister now name a date for seeing the NFA if they leave the steps?
Yes. If the NFA leave the steps of my office and get in touch with me seeking a meeting, this will be arranged immediately.
Within hours?
Yes.
Supposing the farmers leave the steps, would the Minister at that stage be prepared to invite them in?
That is a different matter.
It may be, but I am putting it to the Minister.