den Aire Talmhaíochta agus Iascaigh cén fáth a bhfuil sé ar intinn ag a Roinn deireadh a chur le scéim na sicíní lae atá ar bun sa Ghaeltacht le fada.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Scéim na Sicíní.
10. D'fhiafraigh
The proposal to terminate this scheme followed a review which indicated that it was having a limited impact and that the benefits accruing from it were hardly commensurate with the cost. The matter is at present under discussion with the Minister for the Gaeltacht.
Tá brón orm nár thug an tAire an freagra i nGaeilge.
Will the Deputy wait a moment while I put on my ear-phones? It is more than 40 years since I spoke Irish.
An fior é nach bhfuil aon sceim fé leith ag an EEC maidir le tionscal na gceare? Is it true that the EEC have no specific scheme dealing with poultry?
I am not aware of any scheme.
Why then does he find it necessary to terminate this scheme which was of tremendous benefit to the backward areas?
I have given the reasons.
How has the Minister determined that it is of no benefit?
I said that the proposal to terminate this scheme followed a review which indicated that it was having a limited impact and that the benefits accruing from it were hardly commensurate with the cost. The matter is at present under discussion with the Minister for the Gaeltacht. He is anxious to keep it in Gaeltacht areas.
Would the Minister agree that the scheme has been in operation for a long time and that many people have availed of it?
Yes, but schemes can go on forever.
Good ones should go on forever.
Even though it may be costly to the State it is of benefit in the areas in which it operates. Does that not justify the continuation of the scheme?
All I can say is that that is the advice I am getting about the scheme. I am not more familiar with it than that.
Who conducted the review mentioned by the Minister?
I am sure it was the inspectors in the Department who have given me this advice.
Which Department?
The Department of Agriculture and Fisheries.
When did the results of this review become available to the Minister, and can they be seen by Members of the House?
This decision was announced about three months ago on the advice I was given by the inspectors in the Department.
Can the Minister say, as a matter of principle, whether schemes which are available especially for the Gaeltacht areas, and which are not recognised in future or as of now by the EEC, will be discounted in the same way as this one is?
It is entirely a matter for the Government and the Department to decide whether a scheme that is there up to the present is to continue. It may be that where investigations are being made to ensure that there is no distortion of trade between the member states, we might be pressurised to drop some other schemes if this took place.
Will the Minister make any effort to include this scheme and other such schemes in the directive for disadvantaged farm areas?
The scheme for the disadvantaged areas has already been settled and is not in operation yet. To talk about modifying that scheme before it even goes into operation is less than sensible.
Could the Minister say——
Question No. 11. I have allowed a lot of latitude on this question.
——whether his Government as a member of the EEC can put forward proposals——
We cannot debate this matter.
——which would result in a desirable scheme——
Unless the Deputy wants it postponed for another year.
Would the Minister——
No. 11. The Chair has passed to the next question.