andMr. Bruton asked the Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries why there has been a cut of £537,000 in the provision for 1972-73 for the Land Project.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Land Project.
16.
The Estimates provision for the Land Project in 1972-73 is £4 million as compared with the Estimates provision of £3,725,000 a year ago for 1971-72. The comparison in the question is with the actual expenditure in 1971-72, the excess over the Estimate in that year being covered by a Supplementary Estimate. The actual expenditure, of course, varies from year to year for a number of reasons.
Can the Minister tell me why it is proposed to spend less this year on the Land Project than was actually spent last year, in view of the great need to develop our land to take the best advantage of EEC prices?
There is no such proposal. The actual provision this year as against the provision this time last year is greater.
But what was spent last year is more than what is going to be spent this year and that is what is important, not the book work that was done at the beginning of last year.
Question No. 17.
There are no grounds whatever for that assertion but it is worth remarking that, differently from other years, there was no carry over on 1st April this year of any unpaid grants.
Question No. 17.
Is the Minister aware that there is a very big waiting list for land reclamation jobs?
In the Deputy's area, yes, I regret to say that the waiting list is bigger than it ought to be.
I hope it is the only area.
The Wexford area does happen to be by far the most acute area for land reclamation probably because the demand of Wexford farmers is greater.
Does the Minister envisage that there will be a cut in Land Project activity this year?
No. I envisage no such cut.
Why then is there less money than last year?
Question No. 17. Would Deputy Bruton allow Questions to continue?
Deputy Bruton is seeking to demonstrate something that is incapable of demonstration.
It is manifest.
He is comparing figures that are not comparable.
In other words, the Minister does not budget at the beginning of the year for what is going to be spent in the year?
I do not think Deputy Bruton listened to the replies I gave. I want to repeat for his benefit that the provision for this year is greater than it was last year. My information is that there were not any outstanding grants to be paid on 1st April.
There was more spent last year than is provided for this year.