asked the Minister for Agriculture whether in view of the termination of Section B of the Land Project he will make available under Section A similar credit facilities for farmers who have not the liquid resources to carry out work under the present Section A.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Land Project Credit Facilities.
13.
I would not be prepared to adopt the procedure suggested, even if it were practicable under existing legislation.
Has the Minister adverted to the extent to which it will be impossible to reclaim land requiring reclamation, consequent upon the suspension of Section B of the Land Project? Further, has he adverted to the immense unemployment this decision will cause in rural Ireland, not only on the direct working of the Land Project, but on pipe manufacturing and the establishments of reclamation contractors? In the light of these considerations, will the Minister consider taking any steps to offset the catastrophic consequences of the decision he has taken in regard to Section B of the Land Project?
The supplementary which the Deputy has directed to me covers a much wider field, but I can say that I have adverted to all these considerations.
Would the Minister consider giving credit facilities to small farmers under £20 valuation who are unable to go ahead with Section A work themselves as they have not the necessary capital to engage machinery and so on? It was to these farmers that the Land Project, both Section A and Section B, gave the greatest benefits.
I am not accepting that conclusion at all. Credit facilities to whatever extent credit is available to farmers would be available for a purpose such as this.
Such credit is not available for this purpose.
Has the Minister seen a deputation representative of the pipe manufacturers and of the contractors who have communicated with him their view in regard to the extent of the unemployment which will be created? Has he received any representation from agricultural interests urging the impossibility of considerable sections of the rural community getting their land rehabilitated in the absence of facilities under Section B?
It is my business, as Minister, to see deputations of all these and many other interests, but it does not follow that, even if I met such deputations, I have to accept the point of view put forward.
Is the Minister conscious of the fact that in addition to materially reducing the progress of reclamation, he will create widespread unemployment in rural Ireland, at a time when unemployment is rising generally and when 60,000 people per annum are leaving rural Ireland because they cannot find work? Surely that is crazy madness.
I am not accepting the contention that widespread unemployment will result, because, as I have made clear on previous occasions in reply to parliamentary questions, the general tendency had been towards Section A of the land project. Anyhow, the major portion of the money provided by this House for land reclamation was in relation to expenditure under Section A and not under Section B.
I warn the Minister that it will result in the disemployment of from 4,000 to 6,000 men in rural Ireland.
He knows that well.
Order!