John Connor
Question:125 Mr. Connor asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food the reason his Department no longer assists in the stimulation of agricultural development in less favoured or disadvantaged areas by operating EC grant schemes for (1) renewal of existing field drainage (2) pasture improvement and (3) restoration of land, excluding heathland and moorland, as applies in Northern Ireland; if his Department plans to bring the grant schemes, operative in the Republic of Ireland, into line with the level of operation of such schemes in Northern Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter.