Sheep headage payment reduction
The Minister said the £1 reduction in 1985 ewe headage rates would fund a higher off-farm income limit, allowing more small farmers to qualify for disadvantaged-area payments. Members challenged the cut as shifting costs onto sheep farmers and questioned whether EU funding could cover it; the Minister argued farmers would benefit from likely increases in ewe premiums and were better off than in earlier years.
andMr. D. Moynihan asked the Minister for Agriculture if he is aware of the widespread hardship cused by the recent reduction in the sheep headage payments; if he will sanction an immediate increase in payments; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
11.
Comment on this
asked the Minister for Agriculture if he will reconsider his decision to reduce the ewe subsidy by £1 per head because of its effect on small farmers in the west of Ireland.
12.
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asked the Minister for Agriculture if he will immediately restore the £1 per head sheep headage payments for disadvantaged areas; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Comment on this
I propose to take Questions Nos. 10 to 12, inclusive, together.
The reason sheep headage rates for 1985 have been reduced by £1 per ewe is to provide funds to enable the off-farm income limit under the disadvantaged areas scheme to be raised from £3,500 to £6,400 per annum. Many small and progressive farmers in the west who supplement their farm income with seasonal earnings from forestry, county council work etc., and were previously excluded from the schemes, will now benefit. The Exchequer funds available would not otherwise enable this desirable improvement to be made.
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Would the Minister not agree that the reason for the reduction was a saving of money? Would he not confirm that 50 per cent of the allocation is funded from Brussels in any case?
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No, the reason for this was combined pressure from small farmers everywhere and from the Opposition in this House on several occasions last year vis-à-vis off-farm income. The subject was on the Order Paper on several occasions. At that stage I believe it was open to a certain type of farmer.
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Sheep farmers will not actually be losing money since increased ewe premium payments are likely to be announced very shortly.
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Would the Minister confirm that he has simply restored the position that existed until two years ago when they reduced the income ceiling limit and that now, instead of the Exchequer paying, he is asking full-time farmers to pay?
Comment on this
There was a big difference in the payment of the ewe premium scheme in 1979-80 as compared with now — 75p to £15. Sheep farmers are much better off.
Comment on this
There was no limit to the headage grants. The Minister cannot get away with it. Let him ask the sheep farmers in his own county.