asked the Minister for Agriculture why the Land Rehabilitation Project work has fallen into arrears in West Cork and what steps he proposes to take to dispose of outstanding schemes which await authorisation.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - West Cork Land Project Schemes.
31.
More applications under the Land Project have been received from West Cork than from any other district in the country. This is the basic reason for the arrears that have arisen. We have succeeded, by means of better administrative procedures, in reducing these arrears since the beginning of the year by approximately 24 per cent. Every effort is being made to effect a further substantial improvement in the position.
I might add that the total number of approvals issued in West Cork since the inception of the scheme is 13,187.
Can the Minister state what is the maximum delay at present to be anticipated in respect of the scheme?
I am afraid I cannot.
Can the Minister say if a person might expect to be visited by the Department official within three, six or nine months of the application?
I would not be able to say what the period might be because it is different in different areas. As I have said in my reply, by far the heaviest number of applications we have received since 1st January were from West Cork. I can say that what I should like to aim at is that applications will be inspected between three and six months.
That is reasonable.
That is what I would aim at securing.