asked the Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries the number and location of the group farm projects which have received financial assistance from his Department and the amount granted in each case.
74.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Group Farm Projects.
73.
asked the Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries if he will state when money was first voted by the Dáil for use by his Department in assisting group farming projects; when this money was first available to his Department; and how and when it was spent or will be spent.
75.
asked the Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries if he has received any applications from a group or groups of farmers in County Meath for financial assistance from the special fund set aside in his Department for assisting group farm projects; and, if so, when such application or applications were received; and when they will be sanctioned.
76.
asked the Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries the type of project for which his Department will make available grants from the special fund to assist group farm projects.
With your permission, a Cheann Comhairle, I propose to take Questions Nos. 73 to 76, inclusive, together.
The Government's intention to provide a sum of £25,000 to assist group farming projects was announced in the 1970 Budget Statement. Subsequently, my Department entered into consultations with the advisory service with a view to formulating a suitable scheme. This scheme came into operation in June last and provision for it was made for the first time in this year's estimate. The scheme, which is of an exploratory nature, offers "priming" grants to groups of farmers planning viable projects designed to increase efficiency in the joint production and marketing of their produce.
Grants have already been sanctioned in three cases—one each in Counties Dublin, Cavan and Offaly. The amounts sanctioned are £948, £732 and £136 respectively.
A group of horticultural producers in County Meath, whose first approach was made to my Department in February last, submitted a formal application under the group scheme in September. This application is being processed and officers of my Department had discussions recently with representatives of the group with a view to getting additional information which would enable a decision to be reached.
Could the Minister indicate how long he expects it will be before he will be able to give approval to the scheme of the horticultural producers in the Coolrone and Ballivor areas and if he expects that the amount provided this year for group farm projects will be spent?
With regard to the first question, I could not speculate about the period of time which it will take to examine the project because, naturally, a project of this kind would require fairly minute examination. I could not speculate about the time it will take, except to say that there will be no avoidable delay. With regard to the second part of the question, I cannot say that the total provision will be used in this financial year.
Would the Minister agree that there might be a case for somewhat greater publicity of the availability of these grants? I do not wish to intrude my own experience, but I was unaware of these grants until recently. Would the Minister agree that it might be desirable to publicise them to a greater extent than has been done before?
I would accept Deputy Bruton's submission that more publicity should be given to the availability of these grants. The advisory services have been acquainted of their existence, but I accept that the grants are not as widely known of as they ought to be.