asked the Minister for Agriculture if in view of the fact that Land Project contractors are unable without serious financial loss to undertake work for farmers at prices controlled by the present ceiling of £30 per acre he will consider substantially increasing the grant per acre.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Land Project Scheme.
82.
Mr. Ryan
I do not propose to increase the maximum grant of £30 per acre, which is substantial and generous. The average grant per acre for work approved under the Project during the past year worked out at £16.4.0.
83.
asked the Minister for Agriculture whether his attention has been drawn to an article prepared by the National Land Reclamation Association stating that £5 million of the amount granted towards the development of land under the Land Project Scheme has not been taken up owing to a lack of available capital to the farming community and the difficulty in getting long-term credit through the Agricultural Credit Corporation; and whether he will take steps, either by introducing long-term credit loans or by some other means, to enable these Land Projects grants to be availed of by farmers.
I have seen the article referred to but I cannot agree that it states the position correctly. In fact, the proportion of approved applications not proceeded with is now much less than it was in the earlier years of the Project. I do not see any necessity for the provision of credit facilities over and above those that are available from such sources as the Agricultural Credit Corporation and the banks.
Is the Minister not aware that the suppression of Part B of the Land Project has virtually withdrawn all credit facilities from applicants under the Land Project Scheme for the rehabilitation of their land and, in view of that fact, is it not manifest that a great deal of desirable work is not being done because farmers cannot raise the capital to pay cash for their part of the contribution for the reclamation of their land?
I do not accept that and I am not aware that such is the position in any substantial number of cases. I say the loan facilities that are there should be adequate to meet the requirements of farmers who are serious about improving the condition of their land.
What loan facilities?
The Agricultural Credit Corporation and the banks.
Does the Minister seriously suggest that any farmer has any real prospect of getting from the Agricultural Credit Corporation a loan to cover his contribution towards the rehabilitation of his land under the Land Rehabilitation Scheme?
I never expected and I never do expect to see the time when an individual can walk into a lending institution, be it the Agricultural Credit Corporation or a bank, and just say, "I want so much money" and have it in his pocket going out.
No, but given that the farmer submits a scheme to the Department and in consultation with the Department submits a scheme which has Departmental approbation, does the Minister believe that that farmer can get from the Agricultural Credit Corporation the capital sum requisite to pay his share of the job, whereas, while Part B of the Land Project was in operation, any scheme approved by the Department's officers carried with it the credit necessary to get it done? Does the Minister not realise that that credit facility has gone?
I have no evidence that he cannot——
You have no evidence that he can.
I have no evidence that he cannot get the amount he requires.
Go and try.