asked the Minister for Lands and Agriculture if he has given any consideration to the question of making arrangements for the granting of loans to small farmers to enable them to re-stock their farms in cases where the owners have suffered losses through death of their stock due to various diseases during the winter months.
CEISTEANNA—QUESTIONS. ORAL ANSWERS. - LOANS TO SMALL FARMERS.
Mr. HOGAN
The question of losses through death of stock, due to various diseases during the winter months, is a big question, which is not peculiar to last winter, and which has been and is being considered; it could not be suitably dealt with by Question and Answer. The question of making loans has been considered, but the Deputy is not to assume that there is any firm decision to make loans.
Will the Minister say when a decision will be arrived at?
Mr. HOGAN
I am not promising any decision to grant loans. This is a very big question and it could hardly be properly dealt with by Question and Answer.
Will the Minister say when he will be prepared to make a statement in the Dáil on the matter?
Mr. HOGAN
Obviously if a statement is not to be made to-day, and I am not prepared to make it, it cannot be made until after the Recess.
We may take it that the matter will be considered, and that the Minister will be prepared to come to the Dáil with a statement?
Mr. HOGAN
Yes. There are various ways of raising it. It can be raised by arrangement.
Can the Minister give a forecast of his intentions?