asked the Minister for Agriculture if, in view of the fact that the fodder crisis is happening mainly in areas where land is heavy and poorly drained and that in some of these areas the land is so wet that stocks cannot get access to the grass which has grown there and further that machinery cannot travel this land to spread fertilisers or cut silage, he will consider improving the grant aid for gravel tunnel moll drainage as this is a more effective albeit costlier method of draining these wet land areas than the traditional pipe and stone drains; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Written Answers. - Land Drainage.
230.
Grant aid of 30 per cent (40 per cent in disadvantaged areas) of approved costs — subject to limits — is available for land drainage to participants in the farm improvement programme (FIP). Grant aid of 70 per cent is also available for land drainage to participants in the western drainage scheme (WDS). Gravel tunnel drainage may be aided in heavy clay soils where economically feasible.
In view of the limited financial resources available it is not possible at this time to increase the rate of grant on eligible expenditure under FIP and WDS.