asked the Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries in view of the long delay in the mapping of land under land project schemes, the action he intends taking to expedite the mapping of County Wexford.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - County Wexford Mapping.
49.
Additional office staff have recently been assigned to the two district offices of the land project in County Wexford and further measures are under consideration which should expedite the preparation of approved schemes of land drainage and reclamation work in this county.
How many new staff have been recruited in both district offices? Would the Minister not consider 18 months far too long for farmers to wait for land to be mapped for land reclamation?
I am afraid I cannot give the Deputy the exact number of staff, but extra people have been recruited. I am as unhappy as the Deputy is that people should have to wait 18 months for the processing of their applications and I am taking measures which will, I hope, reduce the time very considerably.
I am most disappointed to find the Minister cannot tell me how many extra staff have been recruited in both these offices. Would he not consider transferring staff from neighbouring counties? I am aware that in neighbouring counties the delay is only three or four months.
I have examined this possibility and other possibilities and I find that there is some difficulty, but the Deputy may take it that I will let him know the exact number. He may also take it that I am doing everything possible to reduce the waiting time.