Fair Deal scheme reform
Deputy Cahill seeks the promised legislation to make the Fair Deal scheme fairer for farms and small businesses. The Tánaiste says the Bill should be ready by the end of December and is only weeks away.
We have a short list of speakers carried over from yesterday. I ask everyone to be as brief as possible so we can get everyone in.
Comment on this
I wish to raise the fair deal scheme. Small businesses and farm families find it very hard to avail of this scheme in its current form. We have been promised legislation on it to make it more financially acceptable for both businesses and farm families. When will that be implemented?
Comment on this
I am advised that legislation will be ready at the end of December, that is, in the next few weeks. There is an unfairness in the fair deal scheme and how it treats farm assets and the assets of small business. We want to make that change and make the fair deal fairer for those who own a business or farm. I appreciate this new legislation has been promised for a very long time. I know the Deputy will not believe it until he sees it but I am advised it is only a matter of weeks away at this stage.