asked the Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries how savings of £100,000 were made in 1971-72 in the provision under subhead D.9 for horticulture.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Agricultural Vote Savings.
79.
The saving in question arose because approved work completed under the glasshouse and mushroom grant schemes was not sufficient to absorb the amount provided.
Has the Minister any comment as to why this took place?
That is a separate question.
There was a drop in the rate of applications. I think that is probably the main reason.
Would the Minister agree that that drop in applications may have been due to uncertainty about the Government's plan for the horticultural industry?
That is enlarging the question. This is a simple question.
I would not accept that. It would be reasonable to assume that the rapid growth that took place in this particular sector of the horticultural industry over recent years would vary slightly from time to time.