asked the Minister for Agriculture if he will furnish details of the payments proposed from the hardship fund for bovine TB reactors in the year 1978.
21.
Ceisteanna—Questions . Oral Answers . - Bovine TB Reactors .
20.
asked the Minister for Agriculture when he will announce the details of the hardship scheme for TB reactors.
: With the permission of the Ceann Comhairle, I propose to take Questions Nos. 20 and 21 together.
I have received the recommendations of the Advisory Council on Animal Health and Disease Eradication as to the criteria which they consider should be applied in determining hardship cases during the rounds of testing which commenced on 16 January 1978. These recommendations are at present under examination.
: Would the Minister state when he will be in a position to say when the scheme will be introduced, if it will be introduced and if it will apply for the whole year? What is the reason for the long delay? It has caused a lot of concern among the farming community.
: As the Deputy knows, the Minister was waiting for the advice of the Advisory Council on Animal Health and Disease Eradication. They have now submitted their recommendations and I expect that the scheme will be announced very shortly.
: Does the Minister not accept that it is utterly ridiculous in the month of June—now almost July—to be talking about reviewing recommendations to apply to a scheme that was supposed to be in operation from 16 January last?
: I do not think that is unreasonable. The Minister is guided in whatever action he might take by the advice given by the advisory council. The grants were increased substantially on 16 January for the present round of testing.
: The Minister is saying that it has taken up to the month of July to bring up to date a scheme that was in existence last year. Does the Minister seriously think that it should take that time? What was the review for? The scheme was in operation. Would the Minister further state if there is a row going on between the Department of Finance and the Minister for Agriculture?
: There is no row at all. The scheme will be put into operation as soon as recommendations are made by the advisory council. Those recommendations which they have made are at present under consideration.
: Could I ask the Minister to allay the fears of the farmers who are concerned about the financial aspect? What amount of money, if any, will be allocated in the current year towards the hardship fund?
: That is a separate question.
: Whatever money is necessary will be provided by this Government. Last year a total of £1.6 million was provided to meet the cost of payment.
: Would the Minister confirm that at least the same amount of money as was provided by the Coalition Government will be provided in the current year for the hardship fund?
: That goes without saying. If we were to follow the same line as the Coalition Government in relation to the payment of those grants, we would have continued from 16 January at a much smaller rate than is being paid at present. We have increased the grant.
: When will the Minister be in a position to announce the scheme? Will it be a week, a month?
: I do not want to tie myself to any time. There will be no undue delay in announcing the scheme.
: What is an undue delay?
: Soon.
: I do not want to be rude to the Minister, but can he say it will be a matter of weeks or months?
: It certainly will not be months.
: Could it be a month?
: We will say weeks.
: They did promise to get the country moving again.
: Will it be announced before a month?
(Interruptions.)