Vol. 433 No. 1
27 Mr. J. Higgins asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry if he will give an assurance that there will be no re-introduction of the off-farm income limit in relation to headage payments; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
225 Mr. T. Foxe asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry if the headage payments made to farmers will continue past the year 2000; if any change or curtailment of headage payments will be made; if so, if he will give details of such changes; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
I propose to take Questions Nos. 27 and 225 together.
Headage payments to farmers in disadvantaged areas are financed by a combination of EC Structural Funds and support from the National Exchequer. In so far as the EC element is concerned, these payments are currently supported under the 1989-93 round of the Structural Funds. The next round of these funds will apply over the six years 1994-99 and I am confident that further Structural Funds rounds will be negotiated beyond that date.
The detailed arrangements for any of the measures, including headage payments to be supported from the next round of the Structural Funds, can only be finalised when decisions are taken regarding Ireland's overall share of the funds and on the amounts to be devoted to each particular activity. However, I can give an assurance that the headage scheme will continue to be adequately funded by the Government and that farmers in the disadvantaged areas will continue to receive substantial and needed income support in the form of headage payments.
With the greatest respect, the Minister has not answered the question, which asked the Minister to give an assurance that there will be no reintroduction of an off-farm income limit.
Will the Minister agree that the introduction of any such limit would be a matter for the Irish Government? Will the Minister say whether the Government intends to apply such a limit, which would be a sovereign independent decision? Will the Minister give an assurance that there will be no off-farm income limit?
Deputy Dukes will recall that he raised a similar question on the Adjournment on Wednesday, 26 May.
I remember it well — the Minister was wearing blue that evening.
I will repeat the first line of my response to the Deputy —"I would like to say at the outset that there are no proposals to impose an off-farm income limit for receipt of aid under the headage schemes".
Why did the Minister not say that at the beginning?
