asked the Taoiseach if the Government have any special steps in mind to assist western areas in view of the continuing decline in population as disclosed in recent census figures.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Aid for Western Areas.
3.
As from the beginning of November, there will be an increase in the rates of unemployment assistance, including the payments being made to smallholders in western areas under the new method of assessing means arising out of occupation of land in those areas.
Small farmers in the western areas will benefit from the following measures introduced during the year by the Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries: (a) the provision of extra farm building grants for piggeries, (b) the payment of a headage grant of £5 on sows, (c) a new scheme to help sheep-farmers, through payment of subsidies as an incentive to improve the quality and productivity of mountain flocks, (d) the launching of a special experimental scheme to investigate how far it is possible to establish viable farming systems in areas where extreme conditions prevail and (e) a scheme of loans at a specially subsidised interest rate of 2½ per cent to enable farmers to purchase dairy cattle, as well as interest-free loans for the purchase of nitrogenous fertilisers.
The higher scale of grants available for industrial projects in the underdeveloped areas is a strong inducement towards the setting up of industries in the counties on the western seaboard. An Foras Tionscal are putting in hands an industrial estate at Galway which will provide factory premises for renting or for sale in advance of specific industrial proposals.
In the course of forthcoming debates on the Estimates for Departments, the Ministers concerned will detail other plans whereby, in conjunction with those I have mentioned, it is hoped to maintain and extend the improvement in population trends disclosed for certain western areas by the recent census.
Surely the Taoiseach realises that if the present depression in agricultural prices continues, those small farmers will have nothing to put into the buildings about which he is speaking? They will not have a beast left because they will have to sell their cattle.
The Deputy is making a statement, not asking a question.
I want to know if the Taoiseach realises that, or is he waiting until the West has been completely denuded to do anything about it?
Is the Taoiseach aware of any results, however minimal, coming from these schemes at present?
The schemes to which I referred came into operation this year and it is much too early to assess results.
Would the Taoiseach say if there have been any results?
Oh, yes.