Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 28 Jun 1984

Vol. 352 No. 5

Written Answers. - Western Drainage Scheme.

240.

Mr. Coughlan

asked the Minister for Agriculture the total number of applications received under the western drainage scheme since its inception, in (a) the 12 western counties and (b) within each county; the number approved in each county to date; the number of schemes that were passed for payment in each county; the total amount of money paid to farmers in each county to date; the total number of applications awaiting approval within each county; when they will be approved; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

241.

Mr. N. Treacy

asked the Minister for Agriculture if he will direct his Department to process applications under the western drainage scheme which were received up to and including 31 December 1982; the reasons that these applications have not been processed up to this; the amount of money available for the scheme in 1984; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

242.

Mr. J. O'Leary

asked the Minister for Agriculture whether his Department has stopped issuing further letters of approval for grants under the western drainage scheme; the present position; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

243.

Mr. N. Treacy

asked the Minister for Agriculture the total number of applications received by his Department since the inception of the western drainage scheme; the number of applications that have been processed; the total amount of money paid in each county under the western drainage scheme since its inception, the total number of acres that have been drained and are now in production, the projected expenditure for this scheme over the next five years; and if he will make a statement on these matters.

Minister for Agriculture (Mr. Deasy)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 240 to 243, inclusive, together.

The particulars requested are set out in a tabular statement which I propose to circulate with the Official Report. Applications received up to 30 September 1981 are being dealt with strictly in order of receipt. Consideration is being given to how best outstanding applications received after that date can be catered for taking account of the limits specified in the relevant EEC Directives. Any further measures to promote drainage in the western region will also have to be examined against the background of the present budgetary situation.

Following is the statement:

Western Drainage Scheme — Position at 31 March 1984

County	Number of Applications received	Number of Schemes processed and approved	Number of Schemes certified for payment	Area drained Hectares	Amount of grant aid paid to farmers £ millions	Number of Applications awaiting approval
Cavan	4,367	3,139	2,471	15,200	6.040	1,007
Clare	3,074	2,099	1,328	6,610	2.883	671
West Cork	3,035	2,049	1,570	6,900	2.813	564
Donegal	3,497	2,175	1,695	8,950	3.532	599
Galway	5,250	2,757	2,004	12,540	4.567	1,377
Kerry	6,971	4,710	3,488	21,740	7.904	1,540
Leitrim	2,156	1,094	772	4,230	1.524	655
West Limerick	518	385	297	1,650	0.526	146
Longford	1,585	944	682	3,500	1.028	342
Mayo	7,318	3,784	2,611	12,870	4.965	1,755
Monaghan	3,671	2,608	2,113	10,210	4.641	846
Roscommon	3,991	2,018	1,432	8,600	2.799	763
Sligo	1,887	883	635	4,270	1.544	395
Total	47,320	28,645	21,098	117,270	44.766	*10,660

Total area to be drained — 150,000 hectares.

Projected expenditure — 1984 — £9 million.

Estimates of expenditure for the following years are not available.

* Excludes applications withdrawn by applicant or cancelled because of lack of outfall or on economic grounds etc.