asked the Minister for Agriculture if he will make a progress report on the western farm package, indicating the number of farmers who have sought aids to date for: (a) physical improvement of farms; (b) pasture improvement, distinguishing between commonage and privately owned land; (c) electricity supply; (d) piped water connection; (e) afforestation and shelter belts; and (f) interest rate subsidies on loans for the purchase of stock.
Written Answers. - Western Farm Package.
390.
The information sought by the Deputy is given in the form of a tabular statement which, with the permission of the Ceann Comhairle, will be circulated with the Official Report.
Following is the statement:
Progress Report on Western Package.
The following is the position at 30 September 1981 except where otherwise stated.
|
Number of Applications |
|
|
(a) Land Improvement: |
|
|
Mountain and Hill Grazing Pasture Improvement |
539 |
|
Lowland Reclamation |
1,704 |
|
Division of Commonages |
60(i) |
|
(b) Orientation of Production |
(ii) |
|
(c) Electricity Supplies to Farms: |
|
|
New Supplies |
147 |
|
Improved Supplies |
54 |
|
3 Phase Supplies |
Nil |
|
(d) Piped Water Connections: |
|
|
Private Group Schemes: |
|
|
Domestic Supplies (including Farms Houses) |
4,264 (iii) |
|
(e) Afforestation and Shelter Belt Grants: |
|
|
Afforestation |
79 (iv) |
|
Shelter Belt Scheme |
(v) |
|
(f) Interest Rate Subsidies on loans for Calf to Beef systems |
Nil(vi) |
Footnotes:
(i) The 60 applications represent 417 landholders.
(ii) Implementation of this part of the programme involves ACOT. Due to industrial action on the part of members of the Irish Agricultural Advisers Organisation it is not possible to supply the information sought on the orientation of production measure.
(iii) This is the total of grant allocations approved. In the case of 3,064 allocations, the work involved includes supplies to the farm in addition to domestic supplies.
(iv) The afforestation scheme was advertised on 1 October, 1981. Up to 16 October, 79 applications for advisory inspections were received.
(v) It is expected that this scheme will be operational as soon as the dispute affecting ACOT personnel is resolved.
(vi) This subsidy forms part of the measure relating to orientation of production. The first instalment of the interest subsidy becomes due after the calves have been retained for 12 months. Statistics will not therefore be available until the scheme has been in operation for a year.
391.
asked the Minister for Agriculture the progress to date on the provision of training centres under the western farm package; and why the provision of three training centres proposed for County Donegal, namely at Milford, Carndonagh and Donegal town is not being pursued.
The provision of agricultural training centres is the responsibility of An Chomhairle Oiliúna Talmhaíochta and it is a matter for that body to decide the location and programme of construction of such centres.
I understand that, of the 22 centres envisaged under the EEC western package, work has commenced on one, tenders have been sought in the case of three and sites have been or are being acquired in respect of eleven others.
Four centres are in fact proposed for Donegal. ACOT's time-table for the construction of these is:
Donegal town, 1982; Letterkenny, 1983; Innishowen, 1983; Lifford, 1984.