The on-going delay in introducing AEOS 3 by Minister for Agriculture, Simon Coveney T.D, is grossly unacceptable and unfair on smaller farmers who rely on such. Some announcement was to be made on this scheme by late July or the beginning of August but farmers are still in the dark as its mechanics and operation. This puts the September closing date in doubt and indicated that it will be some time before this payment is delivered to farmers.

As it stands we have a huge number of farmers coming out of REPS 3, who as of yet have no information on whether an agri-environmental scheme will be available to them. Over 13,000 farmers are now facing this predicament during one of the most difficult years for farmers. Farm incomes have already taken a direct and considerable hit as a result of the on-going poor weather and an increase in fuel and feeding costs. Farmers are crying out for some support and the deliverance of payments owed to them without delay, yet we still see the Minister dragging his heels on this matter.

The Minister must prove him commitment to those lower income farmers who are struggling and must take action as a priority. It is essential that he proves his dedication to protecting such by advancing this AEOS scheme. Additionally the on-going delay in processing outstanding AEOS payments is causing huge distress and upset for farmers and should be tackled by the Minister.

I would be vehemently opposed to any changes made by the Government to the Higher Education Grant scheme that assesses eligibility by including farm land or business assets in the means test. Any such change would effectively prevent a successful application from anyone from a farming family and will result in many individuals from farming families not being able to proceed to third level education. It would also have a devastating effect on children whose parents are self-employed or own a business. This is little short of discrimination and is grossly unfair.

In accordance with stated Labour policy Minister Quinn has instructed the Capital Asset Test Implementation Group to examine the possibility of introducing farming assets in accessing eligibility for the third level grant. This means that the potential value of farm land, buildings or business assets could be taken on board as part of the means test. It is illogical and unfair to assess the grant in this way. The potential value of land has no reflection on the actual income or wealth of any family and indeed this value is only realised by selling the farm or the assets it contains. In fact statistics show that at least 85% of farming families have an income of less than €50,000 per annum. In a bad year, such as the one we are currently having with increased costs, increased animal feed needs and poor weather conditions, this figure drops substantially. The only fair, equitable way of monitoring eligibility for the grant, across all jobs and disciplines, is to look at income.

I have been petitioning the Minister on this matter for some months and am hugely disappointed that this easy option is still being considered rather than an actual, detailed analysis of the Grant system. There seems to be some belief that farming families are at an advantage in the grant system or that they are availing of the grant to a high frequency. This is not reflected by the facts. Only 6% of successful grant applicants are from farming backgrounds. I do not think that anyone could call this figure excessive. Strong comments by the Minister in favour of these changes show a snobbery and lack of understanding that is infuriating to farming families. It seems that the Minister thinks that simply owning land or assets equates to being well off and capable of funding third level education. The Minister should look at the reality of the grant system and the real income of farm families rather than his own perceptions and misconceptions.

Once again we see that rural Ireland is being scapegoated by this Labour/Fine Gael Government and being made to bear the brunt of all cutbacks or savings that need to be made. Farming families will not accept this discrimination and I stand fully behind them in opposing any move to do so. I am calling on our Government T.D’s to fight for the interests of their constituents and to stand firm in their opposition to this move and to inform the Minister that this change will not be tolerated and the continued targeting of rural life will not be allowed. I am also calling on Minister Coveney stand up for farming interests in this regard.

I believe that all of our young adults should have equal access to the grant system to allow them an equal opportunity of progressing to third level education. It is not acceptable to introduce changes that effectively estop a huge portion of these young adults for even being considered simply because they come from a farming family.

I believe that the Government are effectively shackling An Garda Síochána, in the fight against crime, by failing to adequately resource the force and for reducing the number of vehicles being made available to them. Numerous patrol cars have been grounded for reaching a certain mileage quota, but have not been replaced, therefore leaving stations with reduced resources and limited availability of patrol cars.

The reduction in the number of patrol cars has greatly impacted on the ability to police rural and urban areas. In many cases I have heard of calls being made to the local Garda station only to be informed that there is no Garda car available and either the individual will have to wait for Garda support or will actually have to collect the Garda themselves. This is obviously causing people to feel more insecure in their homes and to feel defenceless in the face of growing crime.

According to the GRA, the force had 2,814 vehicles in 2009 and that this number will be reduced to just 2,238 by the end of this year, with at least one vehicle per week being grounded. This cut is particularly severe given the fact that 200 cars were lost last year and 50 the year previously.

Quite simply Gardaí need to have adequate resources to tackle the growing prevalence and sophistication that is seen in crime in Ireland. Without the basic tools of the trade there is little that can be done to fight or prevent crime in our communities.