(Limerick West) asked the Minister for Agriculture if he is prepared to increase the headage payments this year as a once-off measure to help farmers affected by the bad weather earlier this year.
Ceisteann—Questions. Oral Answers. - Headage Payments.
3.
Substantial Exchequer funds have been made available for various measures to assist farmers who have been affected by the bad weather. These measures include the winter fodder scheme, the Shannon Valley flood scheme and the feed voucher scheme. It is not possible to provide further Exchequer funds to finance an increase in headage payments.
As regards a suggestion put forward by one of the farming organisations for financing such an increase, I indicated in the Dáil on 6 November that I was keeping this under review in the light of budgetary constraints and the Estimates which are being drawn up.
(Limerick West): I should like to draw the Minister's attention to the fact that the maximum amount allowed under EC regulations in respect of the headage grant is not being paid here. Because of the exceptional circumstances on this occasion following the disastrous weather conditions during the summer, would the Minister consider, as a once-off measure and by way of alleviating the serious problems of the farmers, and of enabling them to have adequate cash flows, making the maximum amounts available?
We never did pay the maximum headage grants allowable. In reply to the second part of the supplementary, the answer is no and that is for the same reason as the reason outlined in the original reply.
Would the Minister accept that if he backed up by the same amount the £17 million available in Europe for extending the headage payments, the net cost to the Exchequer would be offset by the direct cash input that would be made available throughout the country by way of that £17 million from Europe?
I am not convinced of that argument and as I have pointed out previously, I am not enamoured of the equity of the scheme being suggested by Opposition Deputies.
Is the Minister acknowledging that the money is available?
Yes, and it has been available since our accession to the EC but we have never used it to the maximum.
I am calling Question No. 4.
(Limerick West): When is the Minister likely to make a decision with regard to the very generous offer that has been made by the farming organisations?
As I have said, the matter is being examined in the light of budgetary constraints and also in terms of the Estimates that are being drawn up.