asked the Minister for Agriculture if he will state (a) how many schemes are at present in operation in Clare under the farm improvements schemes; (b) how many have been reported on favourably, and (c) when his Department proposes initiating work on any or all of the schemes submitted.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Clare Improvement Schemes.
The number of applications considered for acceptance under the 1947/48 season of the farm improvements scheme from residents in County Clare was 1,083, of which 1,076 were reported on favourably and approved. In 623 of these cases the approved works have been completed, the remainder consisting of cases in which work is proceeding or has been abandoned.
In accordance with the recent announcement of my Department, applications from residents in County Clare, desiring to avail themselves of the 1948/49 season's scheme, are now being accepted by the Department's local officers and will be dealt with promptly as approved.
Do I gather correctly from the Minister's reply that in fact the schemes which have been completed were all schemes that had been approved of by the Fianna Fáil Administration?
If the Deputy desires to put down a question to elicit that information I shall be very pleased to answer it.
Surely, it is a supplementary question that arises directly out of the Minister's reply. Is the Minister afraid or ashamed to give the answer?
Not in the least, but the Minister is a great deal too busy to be wasting his time looking up such particulars.
He is too busy shelving the schemes.
Pretty Polly!