asked the Minister for Agriculture if, in view of his statement in Dáil Éireann on 30th November that the parish plan will be put into operation in a number of counties, he will explain the method by which the plan will be administered; and, further, whether it will be operated through the organisation of Muintir na Tíre.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Parish Plan Arrangements.
asked the Minister for Agriculture if he will state (1) how the scheme known as the three-club plan is administered; (2) whether membership is confined to Macra na Feirme clubs; (3) the number of whole-time agricultural advisers appointed to administer the scheme, and (4) if there will be a possibility of over-lapping as between the three-club plan and the three-parish plan.
With your permission, a Chinn Chomhairle, I propose to take Questions Nos. 47 and 48 together.
With regard to the "three-club plan", I would refer the Deputy to my reply to his question of the 15th November, 1950, on this subject. This plan is designed to facilitate groups of farmers organised under the aegis of Muintir na Tíre, Macra na Feirme, and similar bodies, who apply through their national executives for the services of a technical adviser to advise on such projects of agricultural production as the groups may select. Since the date of that reply, three advisers have taken up duty and others will be appointed as required.
The "parish plan", to which I referred in this House on the 30th November, is intended to make available to every group of three parishes in the congested districts a parish agent whose duty it will be to help farmers to get out of their holdings a better livelihood for themselves and their families. As I said on that occasion, the parish agents will be appointed from the ranks of existing agricultural overseers and assistant agricultural overseers and through selection based on competition from other categories of Department of Agriculture personnel. I would, of course, welcome the co-operation of Muintir na Tíre, Macra na Feirme, and similar bodies interested in the betterment of farming conditions, in the establishment of parish councils. Final details of the plan are at present being worked out by my Department and I hope to be in a position to publish full particulars in a short time.
I do not foresee that there is likely to be any overlapping between the two plans.
Is it the intention of the Minister to put the parish plan into operation irrespective of whether the parishes concerned are organised under Muintir na Tíre or Macra na Feirme and are the parish agents who are being appointed under the parish plan fully qualified agricultural officers with a degree in agriculture?
It is intended to provide a parish agent for groups of three parishes whether there is a parish council or not, but it would be very desirable if a parish council were formed. The parish agents to be supplied will be very fully qualified though they have not—certainly not all of them—any degree in agricultural science from a university, but they have given such splendid service to the community where they are now working that I can assure the Deputy they have given ample proof of their competence.
Is it the intention of the Minister to extend this principle of appointing unqualified agricultural inspectors to other areas?
There is no decision as to the extent of, or as to the time at which, any development of the plan now outlined can be made.