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Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 3 Mar 1943

Vol. 89 No. 7

Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Agricultural Grants.

asked the Minister for Agriculture if it is the intention of his Department to make available for farmers who reside in urban areas the full agricultural grants and other concessions given to farmers in rural areas, of which those who live in urban areas are deprived.

The question of the allocation of the agricultural grant is not a matter for my Department, but I have been informed that it is not the present intention to make available for farmers who reside in urban areas the full agricultural grants. This would necessitate amending legislation. With regard to the remainder of the question, I would point out that residents in urban districts are not debarred from participation in the schemes centrally administered by my Department. As regards the agricultural schemes administered by the county committee of agriculture, the functional area of each such committee is defined by the Agriculture (Amendment) Act, 1934, as being the county exclusive of any urban districts comprised therein. Section 3 of the latter Act also provides that no advantage under the agricultural scheme of a committee of agriculture shall be offered in respect of land, live stock, etc., situated or kept outside the functional area of that committee unless under and in accordance with the express provisions of such a scheme. This means that, unless in cases or in circumstances expressly approved by me, the schemes of the county committees of agriculture do not apply to residents in urban districts. I am not prepared to agree to an alteration in that position, as urban districts are excluded from the area in which the agricultural rate leviable under the Agriculture Acts, 1931 and 1941, for the purpose of these schemes is raised.

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