asked the Minister for Agriculture if he intends to increase the amount of money a farmer can earn outside of agriculture without being disqualified for headage payments or cow suckler schemes; and, if so, by how much.

The off-farm income limit for determining eligibility for headage payments in the disadvantaged areas has been increased this year. Applicants who earned up to £5,415 off-farm income during the income tax year ended 5 April 1982 are eligible for 1982 whereas the limit for 1981 was £4,750.

There is no fixed off-farm income limit for eligibility under the EEC Suckler Cow Premium Scheme. An applicant must earn not less than 50 per cent of his income from farming and must spend more than 50 per cent of his working time on farming activities.

In the operation of these schemes would the Minister agree to consider a method under which the cut-off point might be operated on a sliding basis rather than as a fixed reference point? I appreciate the point the Minister has made but in a number of cases the off-farm limit is exceeded by a very small amount and for an excess of a couple of hundred pounds people can be denied grants of a great deal more than that. Would the Minister consider reviewing the scheme with a view to bringing some kind of sliding scale into operation so that the cut-off would not be so brutal?

Unfortunately, as the Deputy is aware, where there are limits some people will exceed them by very small amounts. But one has to have a guideline and this is the guideline in this case.

I appreciate that. But would the Minister consider the possibility of changing the guideline, as he calls it, so that it would operate on a sliding scale rather than on a fixed point basis?

There is a possibility that it could be considered at a future date.

I would like to ask the Minister to have that scheme reviewed to eliminate those limits from off-farm employment to encourage off-farm working and employment. Income from farmer's dole or unemployment assistance, which is an income supplement, should be excluded.

The scheme could be reviewed at a future date and those points taken into consideration.

Will the Minister consider waiving these two clauses in the case of farmers on the western seaboard and in south-west Cork? At times they work for Cork County Council or go fishing.

I am sorry. I am not in a position to do so.

Has the Minister received representations from different county committees of agriculture requesting him to amend this scheme in the way suggested, that is, to have a sliding scheme rather than an absolute cut-off?

The scheme can be revised at a future date and the points raised by Deputies can be taken into consideration.

Question No. 29 is for written reply.