asked the Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries if he proposes to sanction the application before his Department for an increased quota of agricultural instructors in County Galway.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - County Galway Agricultural Instructors.
107.
I understand from the resolution passed in regard to this matter by the County Galway Committee of Agriculture last January that it was not a matter of appointing the extra instructors immediately but rather to be prepared if additional instructors are needed when farm development plans are initiated under EEC. It is too early yet to determine what the staffing needs may be in connection with this matter and it would, therefore, be premature at this stage to give a firm decision on the committee's proposal.
Arising out of the Minister's reply, that is hardly correct. It is not correct to say it was only waiting until we got the money from the EEC. We believe that, if there is going to be regional development—I do not want to make a statement but this is very relevant—we must have these instructors and they will not be available and, as the Minister knows, we are doing small farm plans at the moment.
The Deputy must ask a question.
I am sorry, A Leas-Cheann Comhairle, but everybody seems to be allowed to talk here but me. I thought the Leas-Cheann Comhairle would be fairer. This is absolutely important.
Then the Deputy must put it in the form of a question.
I want to ask the Minister, if we want to be in the field quickly, to appoint those instructors so that when we get something from the EEC moneywise we will be able to prepare the farm plans which will be essential. We will not get money without having a plan and that is why those instructors are so important. We want to go out and get them immediately and so I would like to know when the Minister would be likely to sanction the appointment of these instructors.
It might help the Deputy if I give him the text of the resolution passed by Galway County Council :
It was not a matter of appointing the extra instructors immediately but rather to be prepared if additional instructors are needed when farm development plans are initiated under EEC.
That is the wording of the resolution passed by Galway County Council and I cannot be better than Galway County Council.
I am not going to question the sending up of the resolution. I was the proposer of it at that particular committee and that is the reason why I asked the supplementary question but I still have not been answered as to when we are likely to get sanction.
We have not been asked for sanction yet of that proposal.
The Minister will be asked at the next meeting of the county committee of agriculture.