andMr. Kenny asked the Minister for Agriculture (i) the acreage approved for grants under the western drainage scheme to the end of March 1979 and (ii) the number of farmers who have applied for grants under the western drainage scheme to the end of March 1979.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Western Drainage Scheme.
28.
By the end of March 1979, 13,956 applications for aid under the western drainage scheme had been submitted. Grant approvals in respect of the drainage of 7,572 acres had issued at that date.
How many of these have been processed?
I am not able to give the exact number processed. I have said that 13,956 claims have been submitted and grant approval has been issued for 7,572 acres.
Can we take it that the number of acres for which approval has been issued represents merely a fraction of the 14,000 applications?
I agree it is but a small fraction of the acreage applied for, but the Deputy will appreciate that there were certain factors which militated against the granting of official approval. The inclement weather was one of them. We can see an immediate improvement in the situation.
When did instructions issue to district offices as to how the applications should be dealt with? Is it true that such instructions did not issue until the end of February?
That is a separate question.
Could consideration be given to dealing with these new drainage schemes in the same manner as applications for new house grants were dealt with?
Any method of dealing with these applications more speedily will be considered. However, due regard would have to be given to the need for proper drainage schemes. For that reason it might be rather difficult to get people capable of drawing up suitable drainage plans. I will consider the point made by the Deputy.