asked the Minister for Agriculture (1) the number of projects approved for grants under the western package scheme for hill and mountain pasture improvement over the past three years; and (2) the location of such projects.
Written Answers. - Western Package Scheme.
478.
The information is as follows:
Programme for Western Development
Mountain and Hill Pasture Improvement
Number of Schemes approved for grant-aid
|
County |
1981 |
1982 |
1983 |
|
Cavan |
1 |
14 |
8 |
|
Clare |
— |
2 |
9 |
|
West Cork |
— |
49 |
29 |
|
Donegal |
29 |
145 |
274 |
|
Galway |
6 |
36 |
16 |
|
Kerry |
6 |
88 |
121 |
|
Leitrim |
— |
10 |
9 |
|
West Limerick |
— |
— |
— |
|
Longford |
— |
— |
— |
|
Mayo |
5 |
40 |
61 |
|
Monaghan |
— |
— |
— |
|
Roscommon |
— |
— |
1 |
|
Sligo |
2 |
19 |
18 |
|
Total |
49 |
403 |
546 |
479.
asked the Minister for Agriculture (1) the number of projects approved for grants under the western package scheme for less intensive reclamation in the west of Ireland over the past three years; and (2) their location.
The information is as follows:
Programme for Western Development
Limited Reclamation
Number of Schemes approved for grant-aid
|
County |
1981 |
1982 |
1983 |
|
Cavan |
— |
42 |
30 |
|
Clare |
57 |
98 |
124 |
|
West Cork |
68 |
267 |
181 |
|
Donegal |
16 |
52 |
55 |
|
Galway |
142 |
429 |
385 |
|
Kerry |
77 |
268 |
274 |
|
Leitrim |
1 |
2 |
10 |
|
West Limerick |
— |
14 |
34 |
|
Longford |
35 |
45 |
59 |
|
Mayo |
60 |
192 |
407 |
|
Monaghan |
4 |
17 |
67 |
|
Roscommon |
72 |
253 |
343 |
|
Sligo |
13 |
78 |
114 |
|
Total |
545 |
1,757 |
2,083 |
480.
asked the Minister for Agriculture (1) the number of projects approved for grants under the western package intensive reclamation scheme from 1981-83; and (2) the location of the projects.
The information is as follows:
Programme for Western Development
Intensive Reclamation
Number of Schemes approved for grant-aid
|
County |
1981 |
1982 |
1983 |
|
Cavan |
5 |
3 |
16 |
|
Clare |
128 |
148 |
139 |
|
West Cork |
106 |
292 |
399 |
|
Donegal |
8 |
17 |
27 |
|
Galway |
130 |
344 |
444 |
|
Kerry |
37 |
131 |
279 |
|
Leitrim |
1 |
2 |
5 |
|
West Limerick |
— |
— |
— |
|
Longford |
3 |
6 |
10 |
|
Mayo |
61 |
154 |
278 |
|
Monaghan |
— |
4 |
55 |
|
Roscommon |
14 |
54 |
78 |
|
Sligo |
4 |
9 |
17 |
|
Total |
497 |
1,164 |
1,747 |
481.
asked the Minister for Agriculture the number and location of projects approved for aid under the western package provisions to improve agricultural marketing and processing and the amount of aid granted to each project in the 1981-83 period.
The information requested is set out in a tabular statement which I propose to circulate in the Official Report.
Following is the statement:
FEOGA Grants Awarded for Marketing and Processing Projects under the Western Package (Regulation 1820/80) in 1981
|
Sector |
Location |
Amount |
|
£ |
||
|
Dairy Processing |
Coolshannagh, Co. Monaghan |
1,313,689 |
|
Dairy Processing |
Kiltoghert, Co Leitrim and |
|
|
Castlerea, Co. Roscommon |
125,000 |
|
|
Dairy Processing |
Parteen, Co. Clare |
135,000 |
|
Meat Processing |
Coolshannagh, Co. Monaghan |
128,600 |
|
Meat Processing |
Claremorris, Co. Mayo |
612,554 |
|
Meat Processing |
Edgeworthstown, Co. Longford |
1,007,357 |
|
Meat Processing |
Castlebar, Co. Mayo |
547,516 |
|
Fish Processing |
Castletownbere, Co. Cork |
120,270 |
|
Fish Processing |
Killybegs, Co. Donegal |
321,634 |
|
Fish Processing |
Meenaneary, Co. Donegal |
440,626 |
|
Fish Processing |
Killybegs, Co. Donegal |
333,617 |
|
Fish Processing |
Baltimore, Co. Cork |
74,997 |
|
Cereals |
Boyle, Co. Roscommon |
96,649 |
|
Cereals |
Granard, Co. Longford |
460,175 |
|
Potato Processing |
Derrybeg, Co. Donegal |
725,540 |
|
15 |
6,443,224 |
FEOGA Grants Awarded for Marketing and Processing Projects under the Western Package (Regulation 1820/80) in 1982
|
Sector |
Location |
Amount |
|
£ |
||
|
Meat Processing |
Shercock, Co. Cavan |
215,530 |
|
Meat Processing |
Tullynahinera, Co. Monaghan |
495,280 |
|
Meat Processing |
Ballybay, Co. Monaghan |
152,780 |
|
Meat Processing |
Kiltulla, Co. Galway |
260,150 |
|
Meat Processing |
Lough Egish, Co. Monaghan |
252,779 |
|
Meat Processing |
Rooskey, Co. Roscommon |
954,400 |
|
Meat Processing |
Ballyhaunis, Co. Mayo |
1,303,820 |
|
Cereals |
Ballindrait, Lifford, Co. Donegal |
170,193 |
|
Cereals |
Letterkenny, Co. Donegal |
85,057 |
|
Egg Grading & Packing |
Glenbrack, Co. Galway |
55,301 |
|
Egg Grading & Packing |
Scotstown, Co. Monaghan |
34,125 |
|
Egg Grading & Packing |
Selloo, Co. Monaghan |
66,465 |
|
Egg Grading & Packing |
Clones, Co. Monaghan |
37,440 |
|
Egg Grading & Packing |
Glenamaddy, Co. Galway |
22,500 |
|
Egg Grading & Packing |
Castleblayney, Co. Monaghan |
62,595 |
|
Egg Grading & Packing |
Ballina, Co. Mayo |
12,305 |
|
Fish Processing |
Dingle, Co. Kerry |
179,500 |
|
Fish Processing |
Kincasslagh, Co. Donegal |
106,177 |
|
Fish Processing |
Rossaveal, Co. Galway |
47,187 |
|
Fish Processing |
Killybegs, Co. Donegal |
648,430 |
|
Fish Processing |
Killybegs, Co. Donegal |
116,387 |
|
Horticulture |
Drumshanbo, Co. Leitrim |
947,306 |
|
22 |
6,225,707 |
FEOGA Grants Awarded for Marketing and Processing Projects under the Western Package (Regulation 1820/80) in 1983
|
Sector |
Location |
Amount |
|
£ |
||
|
Dairy Processing |
Bailieboro, Co. Cavan |
434,331 |
|
Dairy Processing |
Ballinasloe, Co. Galway |
78,336 |
|
Dairy Processing |
Bailieboro, Co. Cavan |
500,000 |
|
Dairy Processing |
Bailieboro, Co. Cavan |
522,190 |
|
Meat Processing |
Cavan, Co. Cavan |
949,450 |
|
Meat Processing |
Ruskey, Co. Roscommon |
957,500 |
|
Meat Processing |
Ballast Quay, Sligo |
72,500 |
|
Meat Processing |
Gallinagh, Co. Monaghan |
400,000 |
|
Meat Processing |
Ballyjamesduff, Co. Cavan |
944,500 |
|
Meat Processing |
Shercock, Co. Cavan |
151,557 |
|
Meat Processing |
Crossdoney, Co. Cavan |
91,750 |
|
Meat Processing |
Claremorris, Co. Mayo |
934,120 |
|
Cereals |
Iniskeen, Co. Monaghan |
32,094 |
|
Cereals |
Raphoe, Co. Donegal |
71,751 |
|
Cereals |
Tralee, Co. Kerry |
141,930 |
|
Egg Grading & Packing |
Kiltimagh, Co. Mayo |
104,452 |
|
Egg Grading & Packing |
Smithboro, Co. Monaghan |
99,604 |
|
Egg Grading & Packing |
Dunraymond, Co. Monaghan |
63,584 |
|
Fish Processing |
Killybegs, Co. Donegal |
165,000 |
|
Fish Processing |
Killybegs, Co. Donegal |
731,950 |
|
Fish Processing |
Ballina, Co. Mayo |
90,297 |
|
Fish Processing |
Rossaveal, Co. Galway |
579,150 |
|
Fish Processing |
Rossaveal, Co. Galway |
49,500 |
|
Fish Processing |
Kincasslagh, Co. Donegal |
96,400 |
|
Fish Processing |
Killybegs, Co. Donegal |
279,000 |
|
Fish Processing |
Killybegs, Co. Donegal |
400,000 |
|
Horticulture |
Oranmore, Co. Galway |
67,513 |
|
27 |
9,008,459 |
482.
asked the Minister for Agriculture if he feels that the availability of one agricultural office for every 11,000 farm holdings in the west, compared to one office for every 3,300 farm holdings in the rest of the country is having an adverse effect on the number of western farmers availing of the western package and other schemes designed to increase the productivity of farming in the west and the action he proposes to take in the matter.
I am satisfied that the number of Department of Agriculture offices in the west of Ireland, and the number of officials operating from these offices, are sufficient to provide an effective service to farmers wishing to avail of the western package and other schemes designed to increase the productivity of farming in the west.
483.
asked the Minister for Agriculture the reason no payment has been made to date under the calf-to-beef scheme part of the western package, for which £8 million has been provided over a ten year period from 1981; and if he agrees that the calf-to-beef scheme would be more beneficial if the money was paid as a direct bonus, as farmers would not then have to borrow before becoming eligible for aid.
The calf to beef scheme did not come into operation until June 1982. The interest subsidy is payable at the end of the first and second years following receipt by ACOT of a completed claim form together with evidence of compliance with the terms of the scheme. Making allowance for the time needed to process applications and check claims the first payments under the scheme will not be made until 1985. Interest in the scheme has however, been disappointing and consideration will be given in the EC review next year to changes needed to render it more effective.
484.
asked the Minister for Agriculture the reason, even though the western package provided £7.9 million per year over a ten year period for land improvement concerning hill and mountain pasture improvements, intensive and less intensive lowland reclamation (other than drainage), only £4.6 million has been spent since 1981.
Work on intensive lowland reclamation under the Programme for Western Development (Western Package) is well on target. The same cannot be said, however, for the less intensive lowland reclamation or for work on the improvement of mountain and hill pasture and divided commonage where the size of the unit on which work is undertaken is only about half of that envisaged and uptake has been less than anticipated. The programme is due for review by the Commission of the EEC in 1985 and consideration will be given to any changes considered necessary in these elements to make them more attractive.
485.
asked the Minister for Agriculture the steps he plans to take to correct the imbalance which has been allowed to evolve in the administration of the western package between 1981 and 1984, namely, the fact that the programme for western development is having little success in achieving its primary aim of boosting agricultural production in the west of Ireland, as spending on direct farm investment is running way behind target compared with spending on other parts of the scheme such as infrastructure.
487.
asked the Minister for Agriculture the reason, even though it was planned to spend £13.7 million each year for ten years under the western package to increase agricultural output in the west of Ireland by direct farm aid covering on-farm development, land improvement and the promotion of calf-to-beef schemes, only £4.8 million has been allocated to farmers in the three-year period since 1981.
I propose to take Questions Nos. 485 and 487 together. Each of the measures comprised in the western package was designed with the same objective in mind, that is the stimulation of the development of agriculture in the west of Ireland. The infrastructural elements are an essential part of the package and their success is vital to the success of the package as a whole.
I would refer the Deputy to my replies to his specific questions in relation to the land improvement, orientation of production and calf to beef elements of the package. I am hopeful that in the course of next year's review of the package changes can be made in these schemes which will render them more attractive and more effective in achieving the overall objective.
486.
asked the Minister for Agriculture the reason, even though his Department planned to spend £5 million each year for ten years under the western package to increase the stock-carrying capacity for farms in the west of Ireland, only £214,000 has been allocated in three years since 1981.
The orientation of agricultural production element of the programme for western development (western package) did not come into operation until June 1982, and while the response to date has been below expectations, there is evidence of increased farmer interest in the current year. The programme is due for review by the Commission of the EC in 1985 and consideration will be given to changes in the orientation of production element with a view to making it more attractive.