asked the Minister for Agriculture the present ratio of farmers to agricultural instructors in each county in Connacht and the proposals, if any, to reduce this ratio.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Connacht Agriculture Instructors.
15.
The ratio of farmers to agricultural instructors in each of the counties in Connacht is as follows: Galway, 694:1; Leitrim, 517:1; Mayo, 484:1; Roscommon, 619:1; Sligo, 518:1.
The question of altering the ratio in any areas will be one for An Comhairle Oiliúna Talmhaiochta.
Would the Minister not agree that it is ridiculous that trained professional prople must spend so much of their time filling up application forms and going through documents which militates against them doing their necessary work in the field?
It is a matter for the Bord of AnCOT really.
Would the Minister agree that most of our agricultural instructors spend for too much time filling out application forms? Further, will the Minister increase the number of staff available to them so that they can carry on with the work of assessing grants to farmers?
That matter is at present being considered by the board of AnCOT.
When will we have a report on that?
Whenever they make up their minds.
Is the Minister aware of an application by Galway County Committee of Agriculture for a number of additional instructors in County Galway, and the fact also that application has been made for additional staff, thereby allowing the agricultural instructors to do the necessary field work?
I am not so aware.
Then the Minister must not be aware of what is happening in his Department.
Is the Minister aware that there are between three and four times as many farmers per adviser in most of the western counties as there are in other counties, if he is aware in particular that Galway has the highest ratio of farmers to advisers of any county in the entire country?
(Interruptions.)
In view of the fact that the Minister is totally ignoring the supplementary questions I have asked——
I have noted what the Deputy said and I will raise it with the board of AnCOT.
Surely the Minister must be aware of the numerous applications that have been made to the Department of Agriculture——
It is a matter for the board of AnCOT.
Pontius Pilate.
Is the Minister saying that he is not aware that application has been made to the Department of Agriculture for additional staff?
I am well aware of the matter the Deputy is discussing. I am informing him that it is now a matter for the board of AnCOT to allocate extra staff, if necessary, and that we are making the necessary funds available to the board of AnCOT.