asked the Minister for Agriculture if he is aware that a rumour has been widely circulated that the Government intend to suspend the farm improvements scheme, and if he will state whether there is any justification for such rumour and make a general statement on the position.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers - Farm Improvements Scheme.
I am aware that misguided opponents of the Government have spread false rumours that the Government intended to suspend the farm improvements scheme. I believe that this was done by people who were fully aware that their allegations were untrue, and I gladly avail of this opportunity to state emphatically that there is no intention whatever to suspend or abridge the farm improvements scheme.
When I became responsible for the Department of Agriculture there were about 23,000 applications for farm improvement grants awaiting settlement outstanding from the 1947-48 programme, and if a notice had then been published inviting applications under the 1948-49 programme, the organisation for dealing with the farm improvements scheme would have been overwhelmed, and the hopeless confusion characteristic of the past administration of Government schemes consequent on overtaxing the available administrative staff would have supervened. I therefore decided to clear up the arrears before inviting new applications.
I am glad to inform the Deputy that these arrears have now been reduced to manageable proportions, and I have given instructions for the publication of an advertisement at the end of this week inviting applications for farm improvement grants for the current year.
I should add that vexatious as it undoubtedly is to witness attempts to mislead the people by mendacious propaganda, the Deputy no doubt will agree with me that in the case of persons concerned to disseminate falsehoods of this character, it is well to remember the maxim that the more rope they get, the higher they will ultimately hang.
Deputy Smith, when Minister for Agriculture, did the very same thing.
Has the Deputy a supplementary question to ask?
Mr. Boland
The answer was a speech and he is answering one speech with another.
I am not making a speech. Is the Minister aware that Deputy Smith went down to Mitchelstown and stated a certain thing there?
That does not arise.
asked the Minister for Agriculture if he will now state whether applications for grants under the farm improvements scheme lodged with his Department to date will be attended to this year, and also if he will now state when he will accept further applications under this scheme.
asked the Minister for Agriculture if he can now state when it is proposed to readvertise for applications for grants under the farm improvements scheme.
With your permission, a Chinn Chomhairle, it is proposed to take Questions Nos. 16 and 17 together.
All applications lodged for grants under the farm improvements scheme, 1947/48, have been, or are being, dealt with. I propose to advertise early next month for applications for grants under the scheme for the 1948/49 season.
Public pressure, that is the boy that will keep you in your place.
The tomato houses again.
Do not pull out too much rope.
That is the real McCoy.
Public pressure put you there and will keep you there.