asked the Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries if he proposes to introduce a plan, on the lines of the small farm plan, which will be suited to the needs of western farming.
Written Answers. - Western Farms Development.
472.
The essential purposes of the small farm (incentive bonus) scheme was to encourage the planned development of eligible farms. Similarly the farm modernisation scheme now places particular emphasis on the concept of planned development for all farms and the levels of aid available under that scheme provide an adequate incentive to farmers to undertake such planned development. The farm modernisation scheme is based on EEC Directive 159/72 and discussions have recently been initiated with the EEC Commission concerning a number of aspects of that Directive which it was felt merited reappraisal in the light of experience here up to now. Any changes in the present system of aids will depend on the outcome of these discussions.