16 Mr. Connor asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food if his attention has been drawn to the serious difficulties being experienced by many farmers in making their land annuities repayments to the Irish Land Commission with particular reference to those whose annuities reflect very high prices paid for land by the Commission during the land price boom in the seventies; and if he will consider rescheduling these payments or the introduction of a package allowing attractive redemptions of these land mortgages.

30 Mrs. T. Ahearn asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food if he will outline the steps he intends to take to tackle the problem of arrears in repayment to the Land Commission; if he will agree to a rescheduling of repayments in view of the hardship caused to many farmers by the enormous decline in incomes; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

62 Mr. McEllistrim asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food if his attention has been drawn to the serious concern being felt by small farmers who are unable to meet their Land Commission annuities; and if he has any proposals to resolve this matter.

I propose taking Questions Nos. 16, 30 and 62 together.

I share the concerns expressed by the Deputies on the problem of land annuities and have set up a working party within my Department to look at the whole matter and propose an effective solution before the end of this year.