Vol. 410 No. 2
89 Mr. Aylward asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food if he will outline the benefits available to farmers under the less severely disadvantaged areas; when farmers recently included in the reclassification of the scheme will qualify for such benefits; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
The information is as follows: sheep headage and goat headage — £9.50 each on first 150 eligible ewes or female goats; £6.50 on each of next 50 eligible ewes or female goats; maximum payment of £1,750 on 200 ewes or 200 female goats or 200 ewes and female goats combined.
Beef cow scheme: £70 on each of first eight beef cows; £66 on each of next 20 beef cows; maximum payment of £1,880 on 28 beef cows.
Equines headage scheme: £70 on each of first eight breeding mares; £66 on each of next 22 breeding mares; maximum payment of £2,012 on 30 breeding mares.
Farmers whose holdings are in areas which have recently been recommended by the EC Commission for inclusion in the disadvantaged areas will benefit from payments under the schemes mentioned above in respect of the year 1991.
Farm improvement programme, operational programme for control of farmyard pollution and operational programme for rural development:
As regards aids for capital investment on farms, pollution control and alternative enterprises including agri-tourism and commercial horticulture there is, generally speaking, a differential in the range of 5 per cent to 10 per cent in the grant rates in favour of the disadvantaged areas.
Milk producers in disadvantaged areas are exempt from the payment of coresponsibility levy.
