There are supposed to be certain exceptions to the rule in the scheme in regard to 50 per cent of their income from farming for people with off-farm employment. The position is very vague. Can the Minister inform us what are the guidelines for people who are not in permanent and pensionable employment and whose incomes from their jobs exceed their incomes from their small farms? The scheme is being operated slightly differently in various counties. I should like the Minister to issue some direct guidelines as to how a person could be eligible in what are known as exceptional circumstances.

I am not aware that the scheme is being operated differently in different areas but this is always a problem where you have human beings acting according to guidelines. It is very difficult to eliminate it. I will inquire into this and see if the Department are aware of the trouble, which has not been brought to my notice before.

I will not quote any particular case, but I know people whose employment income is in excess of their farm income but it is employment which may cease in two years time. It is neither permanent nor pensionable. So far they have not been okayed for the scheme. Some of them have written to the Department.

If the Deputy gives me a note of the cases he has in mind I will have them looked at.