Vol. 487 No. 8
22 Mr. Cosgrave asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food if applications for the installation aid scheme, which were lodged with Teagasc and other private planners prior to 7 August 1997 but were not fully completed due to delays in Land Registry, will be accepted by his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5299/98]
Under the current Operational Programme for Agricultural, Rural Development and Forestry a total of £17 million was made available for the scheme of installation aid. Due to the level of demand it was necessary to suspend the scheme on 7 August 1997 when some 3,100 young farmers had been paid a total public contribution of over £17 million.
In the 1997 supplementary budget an additional £1.5 million was granted to meet the shortfall in funding for the scheme to the year end. In addition an extra £3.5 million was provided in the budget from the national Exchequer to enable my Department to process the remaining valid applications which had been received in the Department when the scheme was suspended. The question of applications which had not been submited by 7 August 1997 due to technical deficiencies, including full registration of title, is currently the subject of discussion with interested parties.
23 Mr. Coveney asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food the proposals, if any, he has to reintroduce a scheme of installation aid for young farmers; and, if so, when this will take place. [5090/98]
40 Mr. Spring asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food the progress, if any, that has been made by his Department in reinstating the installation aid scheme for young qualified farmers in view of the important role it plays in the restructuring of Irish agriculture; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5153/98]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 23 and 40 together.
I recognise the importance attached to the scheme of installation-aid by young farmers which was suspended when the funding available under the Operational Programme for Agriculture, Rural Development and Forestry was exhausted. Additional funding has been provided by the Exchequer to clear matured liabilities under the scheme. I am committed to the reintroduction of a revised scheme targeted towards smaller farmers. My Department is currently in the process of drawing up such a scheme.
This process will involve consultations with the farming organisations to enable their views to be taken into account in drawing up the revised scheme. When this has been completed the revised scheme will then require the approval of the Department of Finance and the EU Commission.
