(South Tipperary) asked the Minister for Finance if he will itemise the headings of all State grants and financial aids to agriculture for the year 1965; and the amount of the total aid which might be deemed to reach the Irish farmer directly.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - State Aid to Agriculture.
As the reply to the first part of the question is in the form of a tabular statement I propose, with your permission, a Cheann Comhairle to circulate it with the Official Report. I should add that it would not be possible to give the information for the calendar year 1965 without an undue expenditure of time. Accordingly, the information given is for the financial year 1965-66.
The reply to the second part of the question is as follows:—The total amount of aid which might be deemed to reach the Irish farmer directly is incapable of precise measurement. On the basis of expenditure which directly increases farm incomes, or reduces farmers' outgoings, or helps to improve or maintain the value of farmers' assets I estimate that approximately £47 to £48 million of total Government expenditure of £53½ million in relation to Agriculture in 1965-66 might be deemed to reach farmers directly.
Following is the statement:—
STATE Expenditure in Relation to Agriculture 1965-66.
Latest outturn figures (provisional) |
|
£000 |
|
Subsidies of final products: |
|
Butter and other milk products |
10,570 |
Bacon |
3,100 |
Carcase beef |
89 |
Subsidies to reduce production costs: |
|
Ground limestone |
900 |
Phosphatic fertilisers |
2,722 |
Potash |
800 |
Calved heifer grants scheme |
2,850 |
Drainage, land reclamation and general improvement schemes: |
|
Arterial drainage |
1,418 |
Land project |
2,386 |
Improvement of Land Commission Estates. |
936 |
Other improvement schemes |
513 |
Gaeltacht and Congested Districts Schemes. |
280 |
Elimination of disease, livestock improvement, etc.: |
|
Bovine T.B. |
2,037 |
Brucellosis Eradication |
85 |
A.I., milk production and livestock improvement. |
102 |
Administration of improvement and regulatory acts. |
574 |
Grants towards farm buildings, etc.: |
|
Farm buildings and water supplies |
2,278 |
Poultry houses and equipment |
110 |
Forage harvesting equipment grants. |
66 |
Orchard planting |
1 |
Education, research, advisory and technical services: |
|
Education |
794 |
Research |
1,633 |
Advisory services |
694 |
Rural organisations |
44 |
Technical services |
378 |
Departmental capital expenditure on land and buildings: |
309 |
Land annuities: |
|
Halving of land annuities |
906 |
Bonus to vendors and other costs |
120 |
Relief of rates |
|
Agricultural Grant |
12,487 |
Rural Electrification |
1,250 |
Capital for the Agricultural Credit Corporation Limited. |
3,148 |
Total |
53,580 |