asked the Minister for Agriculture if any estimate has been made of the amount of land in (a) the western region (b) the rest of the country, which is in need of (i) field drainage (ii) arterial and field drainage; and if, in view of the availability of EEC aid for drainage, he will consider commissioning a study of the drainage needs of the country as a whole, as a basis for a national drainage plan.
Ceisteanna—Questions . Oral Answers . - Drainage Needs .
30.
: Detailed up-to-date estimates of the kind requested by the Deputy are not available. As regards arterial drainage it has been estimated that about ½ million acres in the country as a whole suffer from arterial flooding, of which about 250,000 acres are in the western counties.
As regards field drainage, it will be appreciated that having regard to changing conditions it would be difficult to estimate the acreage of land in the country that needs such drainage. However, it has been calculated that in the West alone there are at least one million acres which could be improved through drainage and reclamation.
In view of the extent of the drainage problem in the West of Ireland the EEC as part of its policy to help the more handicapped areas of the Community has recently approved a measure providing £21 million Community aid to accelerate drainage for this region. The programme will cover arterial and field drainage and it is hoped to put it into operation as soon as certain procedural formalities are completed.
The programme of arterial drainage for the rest of the country is being dealt with by the Office of Public Works. With regard to field drainage generally, the generous grants available for land improvement under the farm modernisation scheme coupled with the attractive prices now available for most agricultural commodities should provide sufficient stimulus for farmers to drain and improve marginal land.
The whole position in regard to drainage will be kept under continuous review especially in the light of the progress made in the western area.
: Would the Minister not consider that our case for further aid from the EEC in addition to the aid which will now become available for drainage in the west of Ireland and which is very welcome, would be strengthened by his Department having carried out a study of the kind suggested in the question to identify exactly how much land there is and where it is situated—it is not all necessarily in the west of Ireland— that needs drainage of an arterial or of field character?
: The last survey was carried out prior to the introduction of the 1949 land reclamation scheme and at that time it showed that 4.5 million acres needed reclamation. Since then approximately 2.5 million acres have been drained at a cost of £52 million to the State. The need for a further survey does not seem apparent at present. The important thing is that farmers should be made aware of the importance of draining their land under existing schemes. Attractive grants are available to them both under the farm modernisation scheme under which most farmers qualify for assistance and grants and under the new allocation from the EEC which we hope to have in operation inside the next few months.
: Would the Minister not agree that there have been significant changes since 1949 in the economics of drainage from the point of view of new technology and drainage machinery and prices for agricultural goods, and that therefore the estimate of two million acres to be drained, which is based on an estimate made in 1949, is probably not valid and is probably an underestimation in present circumstances?
: I think it is generally accepted by the Department and by An Foras Talúntais, who have carried out a number of surveys in this area, that there is a good idea about the amount of land that can be drained. At present I do not think there is any need for a further survey.
: Could the Minister say how much money the Irish Government is providing in this year's Estimate to supplement the £21 million that the EEC has given?
: We will be giving £21 million. The EEC scheme will be backed-up £ for £ by the Irish Government, that is £21 million, over the next five years.
: How much money has been provided by the State this year?
: Sufficient money has been provided in the Estimates this year to meet any applications that might come in for grants under this scheme in the current year.
: Can the Minister give me the figure?
: No.
: In other words there will be no works this year.
: Works will certainly be carried out.
: Question No. 31.
: Bluff, bluff.
: Sufficient money is available in the Estimates to meet any demand from applicants under this scheme.