Farm Accounts Grant Aid
Leonard asks the Minister to restore grants for farmers keeping accounts, arguing they support sound business management and forward planning. Deasy says the scheme was helpful but ended because farmers were sufficiently familiar with farm accounts, and he does not plan to reinstate it.
asked the Minister for Agriculture if he proposes to re-introduce grant aid for farmers who keep farm accounts.
Comment on this
In view of the need to concentrate scarce resources on the most essential forms of investment I do not propose to re-introduce grant aid for the keeping of farm accounts.
Comment on this
Does the Minister agree that it was withdrawn at a time when people were commencing to keep farm accounts which are essential to a well run business, farming or otherwise, that it has an effect on forward planning, and that a system should be devised to give assistance or aid to them to keep their accounts?
Comment on this
I agree that the scheme was helpful. No scheme is introduced to run for ever and ever. Schemes are introduced for a period. We decided people were sufficiently versed in the working of farm accounts at the beginning of last year and we decided that the scheme could be terminated without detrimental effects.