asked the Minister for Finance if he will state in respect of each of the proposals which he stated in Dáil Éireann on 24th June, 1954, were pending on 2nd June, 1954, for financing from the National Development Fund, whether (a) the National Development Committee undertook a detailed examination of the proposal, and, if so, on what date; (b) whether any recommendation thereon was made to the Minister for Finance, and, if so, the nature of the recommendation; and (c) whether any such recommendation was accepted by the Minister for Finance, and, if so, on what date.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - National Development Fund.
Mr. Lemass
The proposals which are the subject of this question apparently relate to the construction of public buildings, the cost of which, if approved, would be borne on the National Development Fund. In reply to (a), the National Development Committee submitted its preliminary views on those proposals to my predecessor on the 20th March, 1954; the committee has not, however, undertaken a detailed examination of the proposals. (b) The committee's submission was mainly informative being designed to bring those proposals to the notice of the Minister for Finance and to afford him an opportunity of issuing an interim direction to the committee. (c) No final recommendations were made by the committee and the committee are not aware that any action was taken by the former Minister for Finance on their submission.
Mr. Lemass
asked the Minister for Finance if he will state whether any proposals for financing from the National Development Fund, on which the National Development Committee had made a favourable recommendation, were outstanding on 31st May, 1954; and, if so, if he will indicate the nature of these proposals and whether he has yet made a decision thereon.
Two proposals to be financed from the National Development Fund, on which the National Development Committee had made favourable recommendations, were outstanding on 31st May, 1954, namely, Department of Agriculture projects, poultry development in Connemara (pilot project), estimated cost £30,000, and buildings and equipment for the Department's agricultural schools and farms, estimated cost £280,000. The Department of Agriculture was requested to supply additional information on both proposals, but it was not found possible to make that information available before the 31st May, 1954. The proposals are still outstanding and have not yet been submitted to me for a decision.