asked the Minister for Agriculture the proposals he has for the improvement of wintering conditions for cattle in view of his Department's advice regarding the early ensilation of grass.
Ceisteanna — Questions. Oral Answers. - Cattle Wintering Conditions.
4.
In recent years, much has been done to improve the winter feed supply for cattle by such schemes as the winter fodder scheme and the silage incentive scheme. In addition, improved grassland management, winter feeding and housing for cattle all have featured prominently in the advisory programmes operated by ACOT.
Grants for cattle housing and fixed assets such as silage bases are, of course, available in western areas under the programme for western development. In other areas, approvals under the farm modernisation scheme for such works as winter housing for cattle, which were issued by my Department before 10 February 1983, are not affected by the current suspension. A revised system of grants under the scheme will be introduced as soon as possible, probably in the late autumn, and I intend to place particular emphasis on basic housing for livestock.
Now that the farm modernisation scheme has been discontinued, will the Minister not agree that his answer rings very hollow and that little or no housing for the wintering of cattle will start or be finished?
Obviously grant-aided housing will not start unless it has been approved already but, of course, people can do this work out of their own resources if they wish.
(Limerick West): Is the Minister aware that the fullest use of grass depends on proper housing for cattle during the winter? In view of the suspension of the farm modernisation scheme, will the Minister consider backdating the scheme from the date it was suspended in the event of it being reintroduced at a future date?
That is not a practical proposition. The scheme was suspended purely to save money.
It was false economy.
We had to make expenditure cuts. We will not save money if we backdate the scheme.
Mr. Leonard
With regard to measures for the west of Ireland, will the Minister not agree that the criteria that are applied are very restrictive? Will he seek to change those criteria so that more people might qualify under the schemes?
I will bear in mind the point raised by the Deputy.
I am calling Question No. 5.
I should like to ask a final supplementary question.
I will allow that on the understanding that it is the final supplementary.
How can the Minister, on the one hand, ask his Department to recommend——
Obviously that is an argument.
It is not an argument.
It is the ruling of the Chair that it is an argument. I am calling Question No. 5.