asked the Minister for Finance when rural improvement application forms will be available to applicants; and when he will make known his decision on minor schemes and bog development schemes.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Rural Improvement Schemes.
7.
Alternative arrangements for carrying out these schemes are at present under consideration and I hope to be in a position to announce a decision in the matter in the near future. Pending that decision, it is not proposed to resume the general acceptance of applications under the Rural Improvements Scheme. As I have previously stated the applications already on hands are more than sufficient to absorb the whole of the provision for the current year.
Has the Parliamentary Secretary any alternative employment to give to the many people who hoped to get employment through the schemes, particulars of which were handed out to every Deputy about October or November last, which were welcomed in all the rural areas and particularly in the western counties? Will they now find themselves without——
That is a speech, not a question.
The number of applications that are at present in hands are sufficient——
——for the money available.
——to keep the Office going for the current year.
Is there any place at the moment where a farmer living in rural Ireland can apply for a grant for an accommodation road?
That is a separate question.
I do not think so.
I dealt with that in my original reply. I said that applications are, for the moment, suspended. I understand that the Department of Agriculture Farm Improvements Scheme deals with accommodation roads also.
One individual only.
There is the question of the big difference in the cost.
There are many roads which would normally be undertaken by the Parliamentary Secretary's Department, through the medium of employment schemes, which are now overgrown with briars so that it is not possible for people to get out to Mass or for the doctor to come to attend sick calls. Would the Parliamentary Secretary treat these roads as a matter of urgency and try to make some money available for their repair?
He has no money.
I am aware there are many roads in a state of disrepair.
And he has no money.