asked the Minister for Agriculture whether he will have recourse to the Transition Development Fund for additional funds wherewith to finance those applications for farm improvement schemes which have been refused for this year's programme solely on the grounds that they have not lodged on or before 2nd April.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Farm Improvement Scheme Applications.
The applications for grants under the farm improvements scheme which were received by the closing date are as many as can be efficiently managed with the administrative machinery, including staffs, available for this work. There would, therefore, be no point in looking for an increase in the already considerable sum of money provided for the scheme in the year 1946-47.
Will the schemes which have been rejected on the grounds that there was not adequate staff to handle them this year receive preferential consideration before the programme for next year is arranged?
They will be taken as first priority claims on next year.
And they remain filed in the Minister's office as claims—they do not have to be renewed?
Of course, they will be asked if they want to go on.
But the initiative will be taken by the Department in each case?
Yes.