asked the Minister for Agriculture the number of people who took advantage of the farm retirement scheme in 1978; and the proposals, if any, to make the scheme more attractive.

A total of 82 farmers retired under the farmers' retirement scheme in 1978. As I have already announced, I shall be reviewing the entire scheme when certain amendments to Directive 160 proposed by the EEC Commission have been finalised.

Will the Minister accept that the scheme as operated has been very unattractive to farmers and that there is need for considerable amendment?

I agree that experience so far has shown the scheme is not sufficiently attractive for farmers and that some change would have to be made to encourage more farmers to avail of it.

Can the Minister indicate when such changes will take place? He will agree that there is an element of urgency about this.

I hope the Commission will have decided on this inside a few months.

Is it not open to the Minister to do something about the rates of payment even before the Commission reach a conclusion?

This is one of the matters being considered.

The Minister does not have to wait for the EEC.

I agree, but this is one of the things being considered—that increased financial incentives be given to farmers to encourage them to avail of the scheme.

4.