Vol. 309 No. 3
asked the Minister for Agriculture the progress made towards implementing that part of the farm modernisation scheme designed to reduce the categories to development and commercial only, and to provide that all farmers, irrespective of size and working to an approved plan, would be classified so as to enjoy the highest rate of grants.
9.
asked the Minister for Agriculture if it is intended to change the methods of payment of grants under the farm modernisation scheme.
With the permission of the Ceann Comhairle, I propose to take Questions Nos. 8 and 9 together.
Directive 159, on which the farm modernisation scheme is based, is currently under review in the Community institutions. In connection with this review I am seeking reforms which will give greater flexibility in regard to eligibility for development status and provide better opportunity and incentives to a much greater number of our farmers to carry out development of their farms on a planned basis.
The land rather than the farmer is the important matter. Bringing the land to its highest level of production should be the important factor, rather than the number of acres a man has.
The question of acreage is a somewhat different matter, and in that regard I have already said that I will introduce legislation in the new year and have Government clearance before Christmas on a new Land Bill to apply to matters of that kind. I recognise the pressing importance of this matter.
Does the Minister's submission to the EEC involve the proposal made in the Green Paper whereby grants would no longer be paid to farmers on the completion of works but would be withheld to be paid later on a performance basis for production resulting therefrom?
No, it does not.
Has the proposal in the Green Paper been formally abandoned by the Government?
No, it has not been formally abandoned. In the matter of the proposed changes to be made in the farm modernisation scheme, it is necessary to have regard to the context, and the context is the proposals made not only by ourselves but by the other eight countries. We are looking for greater flexibility in regard to comparable income and the extension of the development category to include any farmer who is prepared to follow a plan for the expansion of his enterprise. I do not see any condition in those terms that will exclude the conditions to which we alluded in the manifesto.
I am not making a snide political remark, but I would ask the Minister whether what he is attempting to attain in this new effort in the EEC will be parallel to what is indicated in the manifesto.
It could in so far as it is aimed at the rather acute problem of smaller farmers. One of these problems is the matter of size and inability in many cases to reach any kind of respectable income without an addition of land. It is to that very difficult question that the Government are at present applying themselves.
When will a decision be made on this proposal in the Green Paper?
It is impossible to say. It has been examined by a working party and the present German President's programme of work envisages——
I am not asking about that but about the proposal in the Green Paper. I am not asking about the EEC review. When will there be a decision on that matter?
I am not in a position to say when.
Will it be at the same time as the decision on the new scheme is approved by Brussels?
I cannot say.
I take it the Minister is in favour of what is in the Green Paper?
I am in favour of the general assistance of the people about whom we have been talking.
Is the Minister in favour of what is in the Green Paper?
It might be a matter that would be well worth consideration.
There are a number of questions on agriculture and the Chair would be in favour now of moving with greater speed.
