andMr. Bruton asked the Minister for Agriculture if EEC grants are being made available for drainage projects in the West of Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the preparations being made to avail of these grants by his Department and other relevant agencies.
Written Answers. - Drainage Projects.
114.
The EEC Commission have put forward a proposal which envisages Community funds being provided towards the cost of arterial and field drainage operations in the West of Ireland. The proposal is being dealt with in conjunction with a number of Commission proposals for amendment of the structural directives and it is not possible at this stage to predict the decision of the Council of Ministers or what changes may be made in the drainage proposal. At the meeting of the Council on 13th December I welcomed the Commission's proposal and said that it would make a valuable contribution towards the solution of some of our structural difficulties in the West.