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Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Thursday, 1 Nov 1979

Vol. 316 No. 7

Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Refrigerated Milk Tanks.

3.

asked the Minister for Agriculture whether he is aware of the difficulties being experienced by farmers in obtaining grants under the farm modernisation scheme for the purchase of refrigerated milk tanks where previously grants were obtained for mobile tanks; the steps he is taking to remedy the situation; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

As a general rule aid under the farm modernisation scheme is not given for the replacement of existing grant-aided equipment. However, where a farmer got a grant for a plastic bulk milk tank previously he may now qualify for a grant on a stainless steel refrigerated bulk tank.

Does that mean that a man who got a grant for a mobile tank will now qualify for a grant to install a refrigerated tank?

If the tank used by the farmer was a plastic mobile tank and he is replacing it with a stationary refrigerated tank he will be considered for a grant.

Will the Minister accept that a farmer who got a £60 grant for a tank, other than a plastic tank, some years ago, and who is now modernising his farming methods would qualify for a grant of £800 towards the cost of the new tank were it not for the fact that he got £60 some years ago? That is not fair.

This would be a case where the normal practice of not grant-aiding replacement equipment would operate. There is a case to be made for the replacement of a plastic mobile tank with stationary steel installations but there is not a case to be made genuinely for the normal replacement of equipment by bigger and better equipment. If that is the situation, it indicates that the level of prosperity of the farmer in question is very good.

Would the Minister agree that the two tanks are different and that farming methods change from year to year? Would it not be fair if the original £60 grant was deducted from the £800 grant which would be payable if the previous grant had not been drawn? It is completely unfair to tax a farmer severely, in this case to the tune of £740, for modernising his farming methods.

I do not grasp the Deputy's point about taxing farmers for modernising their farms. What I am saying, and I would not wish to be misunderstood by Deputy Murphy or by anybody else, is that grants will be paid for the replacement of plastic tanks by permanent installations. In-between cases will be considered, but I cannot guarantee that grants will be paid in those cases which could possibly be construed as merely grading up a farm and replacing equipment with better and more modern equipment. That is never grant-aided and I do not think it should be.

That is a peculiar point of view. I will raise this matter——

If that type of grant is paid, the funds available for the payment of first time grants would be less. That must be obvious.

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