asked the Minister for Agriculture if he will state (1) the number of applicants under the poultry development scheme for grants to erect fowlhouses in each of the years 1947, 1948, 1949, 1950 and 1951; (2) the number of grants approved in each year; (3) the amount of money paid to applicants in each of the years mentioned; (4) why this information was not furnished in reply to Deputy Killilea's question regarding farm buildings scheme grants on 22nd November, 1951.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Erection of Fowlhouses.
The information requested in part (1) of the question is not readily available and could not be procured without disproportionate expense to public funds.
As the information requested in parts (2) and (3) can best be given in the form of a tabular statement, I propose, with your permission, a Chinn Chomhairle, to circulate it in the Official Report.
As regards part (4), grants for poultry houses are paid from the moneys voted for the improvement of poultry and egg production and not from the provision for farm buildings scheme grants.
Following is the statement:—
GRANTS FOR THE ERECTION OF POULTRY HOUSES FOR ADULT BIRDS.
|
Financial Year |
No. of grants approved in year |
Amount paid in grants in year |
|
£ |
||
|
*1947/48 |
Nil |
Nil |
|
1948/49 |
65 |
1,162 |
|
1949/50 |
1,792 |
33,181 |
|
1950/51 |
1,120 |
19,340 |
|
1951/52 (to 24/11/51) |
342 |
5,420 |
*The Poultry Development Scheme was not introduced until the financial year, 1948/49.
Is it not true that it was disingenuous of Deputy Killilea, or the Minister, to purport to give a full record of the farm buildings erected in those years when, in fact, he suppressed a reference to the only fund from which farm buildings were then being subsidised?
There was not anything disingenuous about it because the Deputy in question asked me for certain information as to the farm buildings scheme. I have told the Deputy now that the poultry development scheme had come into operation in 1948, and the farm buildings scheme not until 1949, and that the buildings erected' under the poultry development scheme were financed out of the poultry development fund. There was no attempt being made by anybody either to conceal or hide their views on any issue whatever.
I accept the Minister's assurance.