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Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 1 Feb 1968

Vol. 232 No. 2

Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Farm Grants for Western Counties.

30.

asked the Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries if, in view of the desirability of promoting agricultural development in the 12 western counties, with particular reference to the provision of modern farm buildings and land reclamation, grants will be payable to farmers in those counties at the rate applicable in pilot areas.

I am satisfied that the rates of grant at present available outside the pilot areas and Gaeltacht areas in the western counties under the Land Project and the Farm Buildings Scheme are reasonable. The maximum grant payable under the Land Project is in fact higher in the western counties than in the rest of the country while many of my Department's other schemes are oriented in favour of small farms which, of course, are largely concentrated in these counties. As, no doubt, the Deputy is aware, I intend to introduce very shortly an incentive bonus scheme for the benefit of small farmers who are prepared to undertake the planned development of their holdings under the guidance of their agricultural advisory officers.

Would the Minister not now think that particularly in the case of farm buildings, which are a very important item in farming, the additional grant should be made available in the 12 western counties? Modern farm buildings are essential.

As the Deputy and the House are probably aware, we have extended the pilot area scheme in recent months.

Three parishes in each of the 12 counties.

The purpose of doing this in this way is quite sensible. The scheme is a pilot area scheme to begin with and by its very name it shows that we are trying things out on a limited scale. A parish in each of 12 counties was chosen originally to which we gave incentives of up to 50 per cent for various farm jobs and enterprises. Now, after some years of experiencing how this small pilot area scheme was getting on, and of evaluating to some degree what was done and of what seemed capable of being done, the very wise step of extending it, not too rapidly, was taken. This was done this year and it is the way to prove that what was done on a small scale will be capable of being done on a larger scale. It will only be after some experience of this larger pilot area operation that we will be in a fair position to evaluate the total benefits or ills of any of the schemes which may have been operated there.

In regard to farm building, where it is quite clear that the buildings are essential and where the farmer is progressive, would the Minister extend the farm building grants to the 12 western counties and leave over the remainder? I am sure the Minister is aware that many progressive farmers in the western counties are suffering from a lack of farm buildings and I am sure the Minister——

The Deputy may not make a speech.

The Minister is well aware of the inadequacy of existing farm buildings in many of our farms in the 12 counties covered by the question, and in view of that inadequacy, I would ask him would he not agree to extend the 50 per cent bonus to progressive farmers in the 12 counties to enable them to provide modern agricultural out-offices?

I shall have a look at it along with about 101 very needy cases.

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