Farm plan completion period
Meaney asked whether the 18-month period for completing farm plans could be extended. Cowen cited EEC rules and said the Commission had indicated that the post-plan grace-period concession should cease.
asked the Minister for Agriculture if he will extend the 18 month period for the completion of farm plans.
Comment on this
In accordance with Council Directive 72/159/EEC on which the farm modernisation scheme is based, a farmer undertaking a development plan may be allowed up to six years—eight in disadvantaged areas — to qualify for grant-aid at development rate for investments carried out in accordance with the plan.
A concession was introduced here in 1980 whereby a farmer was allowed a period of grace after the end of the plan to complete his investment. However, as announced by my Department on 26 March 1982, the EEC Commission has indicated that this concession should cease. In the circumstances it is not open to me to accede to the Deputy's request.