asked the Minister for Finance the approximate number of applications under the Rural Improvement Scheme, which have been placed on a waiting list for consideration at some future unspecified date; whether he can indicate the amount of money expended under the Rural Improvement Scheme during each of the past five years; and whether it is his intention to restrict or abandon the operation of this Scheme.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Rural Improvement Schemes.
16.
Applications under the Rural Improvements Scheme are dealt with as far as possible in the order of receipt, and every applicant is told at the outset that there will inevitably be some delay in dealing with his application. It is not possible at that stage to specify the length of the delay. All applications received prior to 30th September have been provided for in the 1964/65 programme. Offers of grants are at present being issued in respect of all applications received up to and including 31st March, 1964, in connection with the 1965/66 programme. The total number of outstanding applications received after 30th September, 1963, is 1,921 of which 1,412 were received subsequent to 31st March, 1964.
The expenditure under the Rural Improvements Scheme amounted to £194,649 in 1959/60: £170,096 in 1960/61: £190,379 in 1961/62: £231,097 in 1962/63: and £232,816 in 1963/64. The estimated expenditure in 1964/65 is £267,000. The Deputy will be glad to know that, far from abandoning the operation of this scheme, it is proposed to ask the Dáil to increase the provision to £297,000 for 1965/66.