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Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 4 Mar 1943

Vol. 89 No. 8

Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Lime Subsidy.

asked the Minister for Agriculture if he will state (a) the amount of lime subsidy made available for each county for the present season; (b) the basis on which such subsidy is calculated, and (c) the reason why a much higher rate of subsidy is available in some counties than in others.

The information asked for by the Deputy at (a) of his question is being given in the form of a tabular statement which will be circulated in the Official Reports.

With regard to (b) the proportion of State grant made available to each committee of agriculture is based on the committee's financial position, the demand for lime in the county and the extent to which the grants offered in previous years were utilised.

As regards (c) the rate of subsidy allowed to applicants under the scheme in each county is fixed by the committee concerned after consideration of the local conditions prevailing in regard to supplies of lime in the county.

Following is the tabular statement:—

Lime subsidy scheme, 1943-44, as administered through the county committees of agriculture.

County

FUNDS PROVIDED

Total funds available

Amount required to be provided by Committee

Maximum Grant offered by Minister for Agriculture

£

£

£

Carlow

150

950

1,100

Cavan

150

2,500

2,650

Clare

450

1,900

2,350

Cork

2,000

9,000

11,000

Donegal

500

4,000

4,500

Dublin

300

1,400

1,700

Galway

200

4,200

4,400

Kerry

1,200

8,400

9,600

Kildare

200

1,000

1,200

Kilkenny

200

1,200

1,400

Laoighis

450

1,300

1,750

Leitrim

80

3,000

3,080

Limerick

1,200

2,600

3,800

Longford

175

2,000

2,175

Louth

200

1,800

2,000

Mayo

500

4,700

5,200

Meath

500

1,500

2,000

Monaghan

200

2,800

3,000

Offaly

200

1,300

1,500

Roscommon

150

1,200

1,350

Sligo

150

2,000

2,150

Tipperary (N.R.)

200

1,800

2,000

Tipperary (S.R.)

500

1,300

1,800

Waterford

250

3,500

3,750

Westmeath

150

1,200

1,350

Wexford

200

1,700

1,900

Wicklow

100

1,100

1,200

£10,555

£69,350

£79,905

If the subsidy is based on the demand for lime in a particular county, how can the Minister reconcile that with the fact that in some counties the amount of the subsidy is four times greater than in others? Take the County Kildare, for instance.

One may affect the other.

Does the Minister not realise that this whole problem should be related to the amount of acid soil in a particular county and has he not arranged to have a determination made of the amount of acid soil present? Does he realise that the amount of money available as a subsidy for lime should be related to the position in the various counties or what efforts have been made to determine the acidity?

The only effort that can be made to ascertain the amount of acid soil must be based on the demand. No soil survey has been made so far.

Has the Minister tried to get the county instructors and the assistants in the various counties to make some effort to determine the volume of acidity? Surely the Minister ought to appreciate that it is necessary to relate the subsidy to the amount of acid soil in a particular county.

It is, but it would be a very big thing to do that.

Is it fair that one county should get four times as much subsidy as others?

Carlow is a very small county.

Is the Minister aware that County Kildare Committee of Agriculture will not issue lime to any applicant until the county instructor is satisfied that the soil is acid and requires lime?

That is a very good idea.

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