asked the Minister for Finance if he will state in respect of the period 1947-48 to 1955-56 inclusive (a) the total amount of the State capital made available for directly increasing agricultural production, excluding electric power but including arterial drainage, (b) the total capital outlay of the State, (c) the total expenditure on agriculture and (d) the total expenditure under all heads paid from current annual taxation.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - State Capital Outlay.
The information sought by the Deputy will take some time to compile. I would be obliged, therefore, if he would repeat the question in, say, a fortnight. Data are not available for immediate reply to (a) and (c) of the question, either in my Department or the Department of Agriculture. The various items of State capital outlay on agriculture in the eight-year period will have to be assembled and those which may be regarded as contributing directly to the expansion of agricultural production segregated. It has been arranged to have this done as soon as possible by the Department of Agriculture and the other Departments concerned.