Minister aims to land €16m for farmers

28/06/2005 - 15:49:01
Minister for Agriculture Mary Coughlan says she hopes to make a one-off €16m payment to farmers in the 'Disadvantaged Areas Scheme' next year if she gets EU approval.

The scheme was introduced 30 years ago as a means of helping retain the farming population in mountain and other areas where land is poor.

Minister Coughlan said the money would be additional to the €235m already available under the normal area-based compensatory allowances.

She said she would begin the process of securing EU agreement on the payment immediately.