We have the response. I call Deputy Danny Healy-Rae.

I raised the fair deal scheme two weeks ago and referred to the slow rate at which funds were being made available to Cork and Kerry. The Minister denied there was a problem but it was in the newspapers yesterday and the leader of Fianna Fáil also raised it. That is because it is an issue. Hundreds of farmers came here yesterday. Where is the legislation for the fair deal for farmers to put a cap of three years on the percentage of assets required to fund a place on the scheme?

This has taken so long that there seems to be a total disregard of and discrimination towards farming communities.

We have the question.

I just want to say one other thing. Why is the Government still-----

The question is simple - where is the legislation on the fair deal scheme for farmers? There is no need to elaborate.

I am just asking the question.

I am filtering it.

Why is the Government still insisting on assessing the entire value of a farm instead of just the dwelling? This is discrimination. It appears that farmers are paying for the fair deal scheme for the rest of the country.

Does Deputy Scanlon wish to raise an associated issue?

Yes. I support Deputy Danny Healy-Rae. According to yesterday's edition of the Irish Independent, a farmer who has expended all of his savings because his wife is in a nursing home must now sell land. I am dealing with the case of a young man with three children who took the deferred option. He has 60 acres and is in receipt of farm assist. His bill is €60,000. To pay it, he will have to sell his farm. The heads of the Bill were agreed in December and are with the Government, but it needs to be introduced in the Dáil so that we can deal with an issue that is causing hardship for many.

Where stands the legislation?

I understand, and the Deputies are right. The proposed policy change is to cap contributions based on farm and business assets at three years where a family's successor commits to working the productive assets. That has been approved by the Government and the heads of the Bill are expected in May.