asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food the grants and subsidies which are available to farmers with suckling cow herds (a) within the disadvantaged areas and (b) outside the disadvantaged areas.

The following cattle premium and headage grants are at present available to farmers with suckler herds in the disadvantaged areas:

(1) Under EC premium schemes, £36.80 per cow is paid in all suckler herds; in addition £7.60 per calf is paid on all calves at six months of age and £15.20 per male bovine at least nine months of age, subject to a maximum of 50 male animals.

(2) In the more severely handicapped areas, headage grants on beef cows are £70 on each of the first eight livestock units and £66 on each of the next 22 and on other cattle £32 and £28 each, respectively, subject to a limit of 30 livestock units and a maximum payment of £2,012.

(3) In the less severely handicapped areas, headage grants are confined to beef cows and the rates are £70 on each of the first eight and £66 on each of the next 20, subject to a limit of 28 cows and a maximum payment of £1,880.

Outside the disadvantaged areas, the EC premium schemes are available to farmers with suckler herds.

Has the Minister any plans to increase or extend the amount of grants available to herd owners with suckler cows and if so, by how much and when does he intend to introduce the scheme?

Having regard to the increase this year over last year, I do not want to hold out to this House or to the people concerned a promise of further increases next year. I have been pursuing diligently with the Commission the question of the extension of the EC disadvantaged area schemes and also that of reclassification. I do not wish at this stage to convey the impression that I want to commit myself to increasing the rate of grant, even if the Commission were disposed to doing so and I have no evidence that they are.

The Minister has referred to an extension of EC grants. Could he inform the House what progress, if any, he has made with regard to the redesignation of the disadvantaged areas as severely handicapped? Is he pursuing the matter?

That perhaps arises in more detail with regard to other questions. I acknowledge, however, that it arises also from my own comment. I have made significant progress, but the Deputy will appreciate that this is also linked with the question of the rate of recoupment from the European Community, to which I have applied for extra recoupment from 50 per cent to 70 per cent. Until such time as I can clear that ground with the Commission, I would not like to speculate on the rate of progress at the moment, but it is continuing.

On that issue——

One final supplementary question.

A number of Deputies are offering. I call for a final supplementary question from the Deputy who is in possession.