Liz McManus
Ceist:44 Ms McManus asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food the measures he is taking to ensure that part-time farmers are enabled to earn a viable income; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14000/03]
Written Answers. - Farm Household Income.
The Agri-Food 2010 Plan of Action contained the Governments response to issues dealt within the main report of the independent 2010 committee. The need to develop viable full-time and part-time farmers was one of the issues addressed. Subsequent actions taken by my Department were to ensure that part-time farmers had equal access to agricultural schemes on the same basis as full-time farmers and to encourage the development of off-farm employment opportunities.
The Agri-Food 2010 implementation report showed that equal access by part-time farmers to schemes has been established by devising a common system of income units. For on-farm investment grants and installation aid part-time farmers are allowed to use both on-farm and off-farm income to meet the minimum viability thresholds. The early retirement scheme introduced in 2000 allows for participation by part-time farmers as transferors and transferees and the enlargement clause was removed.
Part-time farmers are also eligible the same direct payment as full-time farmers and have benefited from the increased payments under Agenda 2000. Similarly, other market support measures such as intervention and export refunds which help maintain output prices benefit both full and part-time farmers.
The rural viability services offered by Teagasc contributes to meeting the needs of part-time farmers and identifying methods of boosting their household incomes. Programmes such as LEADER have also encouraged the development of off-farm local enterprises.
Obviously for part-time farmers the availability of off-farm jobs in the economy is extremely important and is the key to their remaining in and contributing to the development of rural communities.