asked the Minister for Lands and Agriculture whether he can state the total amounts of the grants given to each County Committee of Agriculture in the Saorstát towards the improvement of breeds of live stock for each of the years 1925-26, 1926-27, and 1927-28.
CEISTEANNA—QUESTIONS. ORAL ANSWERS. - GRANTS FOR IMPROVING LIVE STOCK.
Mr. HOGAN
The grants made to County Committees of Agriculture, with the exception mentioned hereafter, are in respect of their general agricultural and live stock schemes, which are financed out of funds consisting of such grants and the proceeds of the rate levied for the purposes of agriculture and technical instruction. No grants are made specifically for live stock improvement beyond certain temporary special grants which have been provided by the Oireachtas since the year 1926-27 with a view to supplementing the number of premiums awarded under the Schemes for the Improvement of Cattle and Swine. It is, therefore, not practicable to state exactly the total amount of financial assistance accorded by the Department of Agriculture towards local live stock improvement schemes.
Particulars of the allocation of the special Oireachtas grant between the several County Committees of Agriculture can be supplied to the Deputy if he so desires, but the figures will afford a very incomplete indication of the assistance given from State funds towards the Live Stock Improvement Schemes administered by the Committees.