asked the Minister for Agriculture the estimated number of farmers who will qualify for the new farm investment aid scheme; when application forms will be available; and the length of time required for grant approval under the scheme.

10.

asked the Minister for Agriculture if he will make a statement on the introduction of the new type of farm modernisation scheme; and if all applicants will be dealt with this year or is it on a first come first served basis.

16.

asked the Minister for Agriculture when the farm modernisation grants will be available.

54.

asked the Minister for Agriculture when details of the revised farm modernisation scheme will be announced.

I propose to take Question Nos. 4, 10, 16 and 54 together.

Details of the Farm Improvement Programme were announced recently. Copies of the programme together with application forms will be available from local ACOT offices during the coming week.

It is estimated that up to about 90,000 farmers are eligible to participate in the programme. Applications will be dealt with as they arise. It is not expected that there will be any significant delay in dealing with applications and every effort will be made to have approvals issued as quickly as possible.

(Limerick West): Is it a fact that the amount allocated to this scheme this year is limited and will it be operated on a first come first served basis? Is it true that there may not necessarily be ample funds to deal with all the applicants?

Every farmer who applies under the farm improvement scheme this year and who has the proper approval and has built to the specifications will get the grant.

(Limerick West): Will the details which the Minister will announce shortly include participation by ACOT and will they have as important a role as they had heretofore?

Yes, a planning visit will be needed. It will have a relationship to the old farm modernisation scheme although it will be more flexible. A planning visit will be needed for a farm plan which will be then sent to the local farm development office.

(Limerick West): Will charges be deducted from the grant eventually paid for those visits by the adviser from ACOT or the personnel from the FDS?

The Deputy is aware that a cost has been levied already by the farm development service.

(Limerick West): Will that continue?

Yes. In relation to ACOT at this stage I cannot say anything because I do not know.

(Limerick West): Has the Minister doubts?

For what it is worth, I understand that this will have nothing to do with the small farming population one way or the other.

How much money is being provided for this scheme this year?

I have not got the figures in front of me so I am speaking from memory. I believe we are talking about £8 million at this moment.

Is that less than was in any previous development schemes?

(Limerick West): Will the Minister bring in a supplementary estimate?

Whatever grant is necessary and whatever calls are on this new farm programme scheme will be honoured this year.

(Limerick West): What guarantee has the Minister of State of that?

We have our own methods of calculation of the likely uptake.

(Limerick West): They could be very much out.

We will talk about that this time next year.

Will the Minister of State give any indication as to whether the western drainage scheme is included in this new programme of investment?

Not in this programme, but it will be in the western package. Something that seems to be overlooked but which I assume will be clarified in the next week is that there is a drainage content for the whole country in the farm improvement programme which will extend itself right across the west at this stage.

I asked a short question and the Minister of State gave a quick reply. I want to ask him if he is aware of the terrible confusion in the western area and within the staff of the farm development service vis-á-vis the threat to the western drainage scheme on and after 31 December 1986. Can he assure this House and the farmers of the west that the applications that have accumulated since 30 June 1982 will be dealt with in the future?

That is another question.

It is another question. The file is now in Brussels. We expect that we will have that file back inside the next four weeks.

Will a condition of the scheme be that applicants keep farm accounts? Will the farmers have the option of choosing the western package scheme the new farm modernisation scheme for drainage?

The first part of the Deputy's question is about farm accounts. Yes, farm accounts will have to be kept on the basis of this farm improvement programme, but not to the same degree as accounts had to be kept for the farm modernisation scheme. I have asked the farm development service to become involved in this to make sure that accounts are kept. We hope the system we have now adopted will be seen as a very easy system. Certainly it will mean that any farmer will be able to do the job himself.

On the second part of the question, all farmers who are eligible for the farm improvement programme as it stands now will be entitled to a grant for drainage. Obviously, I cannot prejudge what will come back from Brussels, but under the western package there will be a choice when the time comes.

Deputy Noonan, a final supplementary.

(Limerick West): In view of the fact that farm accounts have to be kept, is that not rather a contradiction in view of statements made by the Minister for Finance last year when he introduced legislation here for land tax whereby farm accounts would be abolished totally, or is land tax, farm tax, whatever one likes to call it, not to be in operation any more?

Deputy Noonan is aware that all good farmers keep farm accounts for their business.

It is not traditional in the agri business.

There is nothing new in that. Any farmer who is farming relatively well is likely to do so. One of the criteria laid down in Brussels is that money paid through this farm improvement scheme must be accompanied by a certain type of farm accounts. I believe that the agricultural community will be quite satisfied with the system we are adopting in this.

(Limerick West): Will the Minister of State ask the Minister for Finance to remove the farm tax?

The Deputy will have an opportunity to ask him.