asked the Minister for Agriculture in view of the severe restrictions applicable to the installation aid scheme for young farmers, if he intends to amend the scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
26.
Ceisteanna — Questions. Oral Answers. - Installation Aid Scheme
14.
asked the Minister for Agriculture if he will allow installation aid where on transfer of land to a young farmer, he is unable to achieve one labour unit based on standards, but is working full time on that land to earn an income.
I propose to take Question Nos. 14 and 26 together. The main conditions of the scheme of installation aid for young farmers are set out in Regulation (EEC) 797/85 and I am not free to change them. One of the conditions set out specifically in the regulation is that the farm must require a volume of work equivalent to at least one man work unit. Farms that do not meet this requirement, even though the farmer works full time on the farm, are ineligible.
I am at present looking into the question of allowing applicants attain the necessary educational qualifications within two years of their first installation as allowed under the regulation.
Will the Minister examine the possibility of accepting a half labour unit or a three-quarter labour unit as a qualification? I welcome the Minister's statement that he is examining the possibility of allowing farmers who attained the educational qualification sometime afterwards to qualify. It is of vital importance that that is extended.
What was the basis for the negotiation of this scheme? Was it based on a half labour unit, or what sort of case did the Minister make?
The case we made was never made before. Young farmers generally have been looking for this type of thing for the past ten years. When one introduces a scheme like this at Community level it cannot be tailor-made. What one does is accept the scheme after thorough negotiation and try to define and redefine it as time goes on. There is great interest in this installation aid. We entered the negotiations on the basis that we wanted it for half a labour unit but we had no sympathy from the EC and we were left with a Hobson's choice, we could do without the scheme or accept and come back and renegotiate it.
Did the Minister do that?
Of course——
Sorry, some Deputies in the House are using Question Time to the exclusion of other Deputies. It is not fair.
There are many aspects to this, but we are certainly looking at two proposals which would make it easier for young men and women to qualify.
How many young farmers have qualified to date?
About 50. There have been many more applications. We changed the regulations slightly in the last month or two and a great deal of people will qualify in 1987.
(Interruptions.)
Will the Minister please answer Question No. 15?
(Interruptions.)
Will the Minister please answer? I am surprised at Deputies. I am going to take up Priority Questions at 3.30 p.m.
May I ask one brief question? In relation to the date for the deed of transfer, will the Minister look at that in order to introduce some flexibility?
I have put that date back to 4 February, so that should make a difference.