asked the Minister for Agriculture whether he is aware that the margin of profit afforded to contractors operating the Land Reclamation Projects has become so small by reason of the deduction from the State grant of a sum for manures, etc., that many contractors have ceased operations; and if to ensure that the aims of the scheme will not be defeated he will have the costing system re-examined with a view to ensuring an equitable margin of profit to the persons concerned.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Land Reclamation Project.
14.
The answer is in the negative. The terms on which a contractor carried out Land Project work for a farmer are a matter for agreement between these two parties. The grant under the Land Project is intended to cover not the whole, but a proportion, of the total cost of the work and I am satisfied that the present method of calculating the grant is reasonably liberal. The arrangement in regard to lime and phosphates is essential if satisfactory results are to be obtained from Land Project work and the deduction to which the Deputy refers is of a temporary nature.