asked the Minister for Agriculture if he will make a statement regarding the position of farmers who have lost stock as a result of the recent abnormal weather and explain in detail the scheme for relief of such farmers.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Live Stock Losses.
In my statement during the debate on the adjournment on 17th April and in my reply to a question in this House on Tuesday, 22nd April, I have already given information in regard to the losses of live stock suffered by farmers as a result of the abnormal weather in recent months. There is nothing of substance I have to add to the information already given. The reports received by me were of a sufficiently serious nature to warrant my introducing the special scheme announced on Tuesday last. The following are the main features of the scheme:—
Farmers who suffered abnormal losses of cattle and sheep as a result of the severe weather in the early months of 1947 will be eligible for interest-free loans, to be used for the purchase of cattle and sheep.
The loans will be repayable in four instalments over a period of four years, but the first instalment will not fall due until 18 months after a loan is issued.
Two sureties will be required in each case.
As a general rule, the maximum amount of a loan will be limited to five times the poor law valuation of the applicant's holding.
Applications for loans will be made to the Department of Agriculture, which will investigate them in detail through its local offices.
The loans will be issued by the Agricultural Credit Corporation, Limited, on the recommendation of my Department and repayment will accordingly be made by the borrower to the corporation.
The latest date for the receipt of applications for loans is 31st May, 1947.
Is the Minister aware that in certain mountain areas losses have been very severe and that in these areas it may be difficult for very poor farmers who have lost practically all their stock to obtain sureties? Does the Minister not realise that there is a danger that people who have suffered very acutely may not be able to avail of this loan scheme?
I see the possibility of perhaps some cases of the type to which the Deputy has referred, but I think he will realise that, since there is no question of an investigation of title and no question of taking a mortgage, we must have some security.
Would the Minister consider as an alternative in such cases that a loan for a smaller amount might be granted to people unable to obtain these sureties? A loan of twice the poor law valuation might relieve people in very desperate circumstances and would not involve too heavy a burden on them.
I do not think there is any justification for the Deputy's shouting "wolf" until there is really a wolf about. Schemes somewhat similar to this have been administered in previous years. They have been administered on the basis of the applicants supplying sureties of the type I have in mind, and, throwing my mind back to that period, I cannot say that I can recollect any farmers who were unable to get the two sureties provided for here.
Is the Minister not aware that the Agriculture Credit Corporation is turning down applications for loans every day?
I am not talking about the Agricultural Credit Corporation; I am talking about schemes more or less similar to the scheme I have outlined. I have stated that in my experience— and I was a member of the House at the time—I know of no farmer who failed to secure the two sureties provided for here and there is no purpose, in my view, in Deputy Cogan referring to an obstacle which has not as yet arisen.