asked the Minister for Agriculture the reason for the expenditure of only £16,000 by his Department on sheep breed improvement up to the end of 1979; and if he will substantially increase State investment in sheep breed improvement.
Written Answers. - Sheep Breed Improvement.
343.
In my reply to the Deputy's question of 27 May about progeny testing and performance recording of certain breeds of sheep, I indicated that these schemes formed part of my Department's sheep breeding improvement programme. The expenditure of £16,000 mentioned in the reply related to these schemes only and covered the years 1977, 1978 and 1979. The total gross expenditure on all the Department's sheep breeding improvement measures during that period was £193,000.