asked the Minister for Lands and Agriculture if he will state the number of Agricultural Credit Societies which have been established in the Saorstát since 1st June, 1925, and what portion of the £100,000 voted for their establishment has been applied for and advanced to date.
CEISTEANNA—QUESTIONS. ORAL ANSWERS. - AGRICULTURAL CREDIT SOCIETIES.
The number of Credit Societies registered since the date in question is eight, while corresspondence in regard to the setting up of other societies is proceeding. The amount advanced up to the present to new societies is £3,500 (in the proportion of £2 to each £1 of local deposits). Until recently previously existing Credit Societies were not able, under the terms of the scheme, to obtain advances from State funds, but, under a modification approved by the Minister for Finance this difficulty is being removed, and it is anticipated that advances against the existing deposits of a number of these societies will be made at an early date, in response to applications from them for the purposes of the scheme.
The Minister says that correspondence in regard to the setting up of other societies is going on. How many others?
Mr. HOGAN
I could not say offhand. It is a large number.
I want the Minister to state how many of these old credit societies, which were outside the purview of this loan, will now come inside it? Can he give the number?
Mr. HOGAN
I think about 20 or 30. The Deputy can take it that there is a very large number of old societies functioning. I read their names here on one occasion. I have not the exact number now, but I could get it for the Deputy.