asked the Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries if he will consider people who live in urban areas eligible for agricultural scholarships; and if he will increase the number of places in agricultural colleges to provide for them.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Agricultural Colleges.
21.
Agricultural scholarships offered by the county committees of agriculture are already available to persons whose parents are resident in urban areas if the parents are holders of land in the rural areas of the county. Applications from urban residents whose parents are not holders of land in the rural areas are, if the county committee of agriculture decides that the circumstances warrant it, considered on their merits, due regard being had to the number of scholarships available and to the number of applicants from the rural areas qualifying for such scholarships.
Increased numbers of places are being provided at agricultural colleges. The places available are, however, more than adequate to meet the number of scholarships at present awarded by county committees of agriculture.
22.
asked the Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries the number of places available in agricultural colleges in Ireland in 1968-69, 1971-72 and the number likely to be available in 1972-73.
The number of places available in residential agricultural colleges in 1968-69 and 1970-71 was 565 and 715 respectively. The number likely to be available in 1972-73 is 770.
Is the Minister aware that it was promised in the Third Programme for Economic Expansion that 300 extra places would be provided before 1972 and that it seems, on the Minister's figures, that we have got only half way there? Is the Minister aware that this was one of the few quantified targets in the programme for agriculture? It is rather unfortunate that the Government have failed to reach it.
I think the progress made in the matter of the provision of extra places for agricultural students in the last couple of years has been very satisfactory indeed.
Could the Minister state what considerations led to a target of 300 being set in 1969, in the Third Programme, which apparently do not now exist, so how can the Minister say he is quite satisfied with what has happened?
I did not say that I was quite satisfied that the number of places being made available is sufficient. What I did say was that the rate at which they are being provided has increased very rapidly and that that situation is satisfactory.