asked the Minister for Agriculture if the rules and conditions for the payment of headage grants to people in disadvantaged areas have been changed; if applicants have now to occupy their holdings on a full time basis; and if those who leave their holdings for short periods to supplement farm earnings by going either to England or other parts of Ireland are now considered ineligible for headage grants.

The rules governing payment of grants under the disadvantaged areas schemes have not been changed in relation to the points raised by the Deputy. The schemes are designed to maintain the farmer population in those areas instead of directing payments to absentee landowners and, in fact, the principal requirement of the schemes, namely, that applicants must farm and occupy at least three hectares — seven and a half acres — has remained unchanged since 1975.

Where, however, applicants do not farm and occupy their holdings full-time for the reasons cited by the Deputy or for any other reason, each case is treated on its merits. As a general rule applicants who spend more than half the year on their holdings will qualify for grants — unless, of course, their off-farm earnings exceed £6,400 and they are disqualified on that score.

(Limerick West): Will the Minister agree that it is most unfair where a farmer has to supplement his income by seeking work elsewhere that he should be debarred from the scheme? Presumably that applicant's wife, and family, work the farm and that should be sufficient to justify payment under the scheme. Will the Minister ensure that a change is brought about as far as that rule is concerned?

That is a reasonable point to the degree that a man may work away from home while his wife and family work the farm. We always give very sympathetic consideration to such cases and I insist that such applicants are given such consideration.

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