asked the Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries the position in respect of a transitional farmer who is over 55 years and who has a young family.

The farm modernisation scheme contains provisions for investment aid to the type of farmer mentioned by the Deputy notwithstanding the fact that such farmers are eligible for retirement benefits under Directive 160. The level of aid available to them is however somewhat lower than for transitional farmers generally. Farmers who fall into this category are of course not precluded from becoming development farmers either after a period of expansion of their existing resources or through acquiring extra land. Moreover such farmers within the handicapped areas will be entitled to any additional aids to be provided under the proposed scheme to cater for such areas.

Would the Minister be able to tell me whether or not the farmer he has described in his answer would be eligible for land from the Land Commission?

Yes.