asked the Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries if he will consider providing an increase to applicants for grants under the land project whose applications necessitate the laying of culverts across main or country roads.
110.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Land Project Work.
109.
asked the Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries if he will consider paying the full estimated cost of bridges across public roads which must be reconstructed in connection with land project work, in view of the fact that the Department of Local Government are paying in full for this type of work under local improvement schemes.
With the permission of the Ceann Comhairle, I propose to take Questions Nos. 109 and 110 together.
Works on culverts across main or public roads are the responsibility of the local authority for the area. My Department have an arrangement with the local authorities whereby they carry out, at the request of the land project, any works which have to be done on public road culverts to facilitate land drainage and which would be justified by reference to the economic returns expected to be yielded. The full cost of such works is recouped to the local authority out of land project funds.
I agree that the cost is recouped by way of grant and contribution but the question asked whether the Minister would consider paying the full cost since the Department of Local Government are paying in full for this type of work under their local improvements schemes.
I said in my reply that the full cost and not portion of it is granted by the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries to the Department of Local Government.
Why, then, must the farmer pay a contribution towards the cost?
A farmer pays nothing towards the cost of a culvert across a public road.
I was under the impression that he made some contribution.
Is the Minister aware that hardship is caused because applications will not be examined by the land project people if they do not consider the project to be an economic one? In many cases as much as six acres could be left useless as a result of the work not being carried out.
That is a separate question.
Of course this sort of situation would impose a hardship but one must have regard to the economics of the situation. Land could cost as much as £2,000 an acre.
But when we talk of culverts we are talking in terms of a few hundred and not thousands of pounds.
Not if demolition work must be carried out and the culvert rebuilt. One could not have much done for a few hundred pounds nowadays.
111.
asked the Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries if he is aware that a person in County Cork (name supplied) completed an application form for a land project grant, handed it to an officer of his Department in 1972 and that the same officer inspected the work while in progress; and if he will now make arrangements to have the grant paid.
I am not aware that the person named by the Deputy completed an application form and handed it to an officer of my Department in 1972. The local land project office did not receive a completed application form from that person and in consequence no investigation of proposed land improvement works was made; no approved scheme of work issued and no inspection of work in progress took place. Payment of grant aid for work done without prior approval would not be warranted.
Questions Nos. 112 to 114 inclusive postponed.