asked the Minister for Agriculture if the financial limits for guidance premia, aid for farm accounts, launching aid for farm groups and levels of investment eligible for aid set in France for 1980 in the Journal Officiel of 5 April 1980 exceeds the limits now operative in Ireland and, if so, by how much in each case.
Written Answers - Farm Aid Financial Limits.
216.
The amounts paid by member states for guidance premia, farm accounts and launching aid for farm groups and the total investment that can be aided under Directive 159 are fixed in ECUs. For administrative purposes these amounts must be converted into the currency of each member state at the representative rate prevailing at 1 January each year.
The following are the current amounts expressed in ECUs and the equivalent in Irish pounds:
|
ECUs |
Irish Pounds |
|
|
Guidance Premia: |
||
|
(Maximum per farm for years 1, 2 and 3 respectively |
5888 ECUs, 3990 ECUs and 2031 ECUs |
£3,880, £2,630 and £1,340 |
|
Farm Accounts: |
||
|
(over 4 years) |
572-751 ECUs |
£377-£495 |
|
Launching Aid for Farm Groups |
3290—9867 ECUs |
£2,170—£6,505 |
|
Level of Investment per Labour Unit |
52599 ECUs |
£34,675 |
In the case of farm accounts and launching aid for groups the directive provides a minimum and a maximum to be applied at the discretion of the member states, while in the case of guidance premia it provides for a maximum only.
In the case of farm accounts Ireland has exercised its option under the directive, whereas France appears to have done so in the case of launching aid for groups. The other amounts approximate closely, at prevailing exchange rates, in both countries.