§ Mr. Kilfedderasked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many farms, and of what acreage, have been amalgamated under the farm amalgamation schemes; what has been the cost in grants or annuities to the outgoing farmers; and which counties have shown the greatest response.
§ Mr. Dunn1,043 amalgamations involving a total of 44,158 hectares have been carried out in Northern Ireland under the farm structure schemes of 1967, 1970 and 1973. The average size of the outgoers' holdings relinquished is approximately 17 hectares, and of the resultant amalgamated holdings approximately 43 hectares. Grant paid to outgoers totals £899,220 being £466,791 in lump sum payments, £423,032 in annuities and £9,397 in incidental (legal) costs. The numbers of scheme amalgamations carried out in the different counties of Northern Ireland are as follows:
Antrim … … … 174 Armagh … … … 141 Down … … … 149 Fermanagh … … … 135 Londonderry … … … 118 Tyrone … … … 326