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.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Lime Subsidy.
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.