asked the Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries if he has applied to FEOGA for a grant to repair bog roads.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Bog Road Repairs.
20.
No applications have been made to FEOGA for grant aid towards the cost of repairing bog roads.
If grants were given, would the money be available or would bog roads be considered under FEOGA?
I have a note here that there are a number of people who appear to be under the impression that there are funds going abegging in FEOGA for road improvement and development. This is probably due to the fact that farm roads have been grant aided in other member States under the FEOGA project scheme. The position about this scheme is that any project which meets the general objective of improving structural efficiency in agriculture and satisfies the specific conditions of the scheme is eligible for grant aid under it. The funds for the scheme are limited and it is solely a matter for the Commission to decide which priority projects are to receive grant aid.
Would the Minister not agree that energy is important for farmers? Energy is available in our bogs and bog roads should come in under that heading.
I will have this looked at again and see if it is possible to get anything.
Is the Minister aware that during this year the German and French Governments obtained grants from FEOGA for roads through forests? For this reason could we not press to obtain grants for our bog roads?
Were the grants obtained under the regional fund?
No; from FEOGA. I will give the Minister the relevant correspondence.
I would be glad to receive that correspondence and I will look into the matter.