asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food if the Government have any proposals to change the off-farm limits from the present limit of £5,200 to £10,000.

62.

asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food if his attention has been drawn to the fact that headage payments have not increased since 1980; and if there are any plans to do so in the future.

It is proposed to take Questions Nos. 57 and 62 together.

Pending the outcome of an application by Ireland to the EC Commission for an increase in the recoupment rate from the current level of 50 per cent, the question of changes in the terms and conditions of the disadvantaged areas schemes cannot be considered.

It is not strictly accurate to say that headage payments have not increased since 1980. Headage payment rates on beef cows have, in fact, been more than doubled since 1980 while sheep rates have been restructured and substantially increased.