andMrs. Hogan O'Higgins asked the Minister for Finance why the £45 million livestock development project for which a loan is being sought from the World Bank is confined to cattle and pig production and does not include sheep production.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Livestock Development Project.
19.
The proposed livestock development project for which World Bank assistance is being sought emerged after consultations with the bank. Because the finance available from the bank will be limited, the project is being confined to cattle and pig production. These are the sectors in which there is the greatest demand for capital.
There is no question, however, that the exclusion of sheep implies any diminution in resources for sheep development. Adequate finance will be available through the ACC and other channels for all worthwhile development in this sector.
Would the Minister agree that the report on State expenditure in relation to agriculture demonstrated that one of the greatest reasons for the decline in sheep numbers was that, relatively speaking, much less State aid was given to sheep production than to other lines of agricultural production and that this existing situation will now be aggravated further by the fact that sheep are being excluded from this project?
I would not agree at all. The fact that money may be obtained on foot of this project from the World Bank does not mean that money will not be available for sheep.
But this money is not being made available for sheep production.
That does not mean that money will not be available.
Can I take it, then, that an equivalent amount of money would be made available from our own funds solely for sheep so as to redress the balance?
There is no balance requiring to be redressed because of the World Bank project. This is merely one source of money. It does not make any difference to the total amount that will be made available for the particular project.
Can the Minister say how the money that we are getting from the World Bank will be spent?
The project has not been concluded yet.
Can the Minister assure me——
I am calling Question No. 20.
——that expenditure from State funds and all public funds on sheep production will be increased relative to beef and pigs so that the imbalance that has existed to date will cease to exist?
Any worthwhile developments in regard to sheep production will be financed.
That means nothing.