asked the Minister for Agriculture if he will state the number of acres reclaimed under the farm improvement schemes in each year from 1940 to 1951; what basis was the grant under this scheme assessed; what works were eligible for grant under this scheme; and whether such works continued to be eligible for grants under any scheme or project after 1949-50; and, if so, under what scheme or project and where conditions or terms differed, in what respect were they different as between 1949-50 and in the years thereafter.
Written Answers. - Reclamation of Land.
The information required is as follows:—
FARM IMPROVEMENTS SCHEME.
|
Financial Year |
Area Reclaimed (Statute Acres) |
|
1940-41 |
245 |
|
1941-42 |
12,688 |
|
1942-43 |
16,471 |
|
1943-44 |
18,982 |
|
1944-45 |
17,067 |
|
1945-46 |
14,121 |
|
1946-47 |
12,199 |
|
1947-48 |
12,708 |
|
1948-49 |
11,478 |
|
1949-50 |
16,389 |
|
(Scheme terminated on 31st December, 1949) |
|
|
TOTAL |
132,348 |
Grants were equivalent to 50 per cent. of the approved estimated labour cost of the works.
The following works were eligible for grant under the scheme:—
(1) land reclamation and field drainage;
(2) construction or improvement of watercourses;
(3) construction or improvement of fences, or removal of unnecessary fences which involved waste of ground or impeded cultivation;
(4) improvement of farmyards, laying of concrete floors in out-offices, erection of concrete stall divisions and concrete feeding troughs in byres, and the plastering of walls inside byres;
(5) construction of concrete water tanks, liquid manure tanks, silos, and concrete stands for corn-stacks;
(6) construction or improvement of farm roadways; and
(7) construction of cattle enclosures.
The maximum grant allowed to any applicant in respect of any season was £100 and the minimum grant £5, except in the congested districts where a minimum grant of £1 was allowed.
These works continued to be eligible for grants under the land rehabilitation project and the farm buildings scheme as follows:—
Land rehabilitation project—items (1), (2) and (3).
Farm buildings scheme—items (4), (5), (6) and (7).
There was no difference in the conditions or terms on which grants were payable in respect of the works listed (4), (5), (6) and (7) under the farm buildings scheme from 1949-50 onwards as compared with those in force under the farm improvements scheme.
There was a difference between the conditions and terms under which grants were payable for the works listed (1), (2) and (3) under the farm improvements scheme and the conditions and terms under which State assistance was provided from 1949-50 onwards for such works under the land rehabilitation project. Under the farm improvements scheme applicants were required to undertake the execution of approved works themselves. On satisfactory completion of such works a grant equivalent to 50 per cent. of the approved estimated labour cost, subject to a maximum grant of £11 per statute acre reclaimed, was payable.
Under the land rehabilitation project assistance is provided to farmers in two ways:—
(a) A farmer is at liberty to arrange for the execution of drainage and reclamation work himself and will receive a grant for doing so. Grants are based on the nature and extent of the work to be done and represent two-thirds of the approved estimated cost of the work, including labour and materials, subject to a maximum grant at the rate of £20 per statute acre. If the grant earned is £5 per acre or less it is paid in full in cash. Where the grant earned exceeds £5 per acre, part of it up to a maximum sum of £5 per acre is applied towards the purchase, for application to the land reclaimed, of such ground limestone and phosphates as may be found to be necessary as a result of a soil test.
(b) Where the farmer is unable to arrange to carry out the work himself he can request the Department to carry out the work on his behalf. In such cases the farmer is required to contribute two-fifths of the estimated cost of the work, including the provision of lime and phosphates up to the value of £5 per acre, subject to a maximum contribution of £12 per statute acre. If a farmer does not desire to pay his contribution in cash he can arrange to have his holding charged with the appropriate amount, which will be repayable by way of annuity calculated on the basis of 3½ per cent. interest and ½ per cent. sinking fund.
It is, however, only right to warn intending applicants that, because of the number who have applied to have work carried out for them under this method, and the limited quantity of machinery available, it may be a considerable time before their applications can be reached. For that reason farmers and landowners would be well advised to take advantage of that part of the scheme under which they are themselves responsible for the execution of the work.