With the permission of the Ceann Comhairle, I propose to take Questions Nos. 23 and 24 together.
Up to the present year scholarships to agricultural colleges have been awarded by the county committees of agriculture, which have in most cases confined elegibility for them to persons resident or owning land in their functional areas, which exclude urban areas. In doing so committees were acting in accordance with the Agriculture Acts. In the case of Waterford, the committee made special provision in their scheme to enable the children of residents in the urban areas of the county to be awarded scholarships after the requirements of qualified candidates from the rural areas had been met. I understand that the sole qualified urban candidate was in fact awarded a scholarship under this provision.
In future years the award of these scholarships will be a function of An Chomhairle Oiliúna Talmhaíochta. The matters raised by the Deputy have been brought to the attention of ACOT.