asked the Minister for Lands and Agriculture if he will take steps to extend to Northwest Cavan the facilities which apply to the adjoining County of Leitrim in providing a number of special term premium bulls for that area.
CEISTEANNA—QUESTIONS. ORAL ANSWERS. - PREMIUM BULLS.
Mr. HOGAN
I would refer the Deputy to the reply given by me on 12th August last to a similar question by Deputy Baxter on this subject.
The reply was as follows:—
"The funds voted for special live stock and other schemes for the statutory congested districts cannot be applied to County Cavan, which is not a scheduled congested area. The live stock schemes in County Cavan are administered through the Co. Committee of Agriculture, and under these schemes developments have taken place in the last few years. For example, the number of premium bulls in the county in 1925 and 1926 were, respectively, 22 and 28, while this year the number is 36. The number of premium boars was similarly increased from 17 to 35, respectively, in 1925 and 1926 to 39 this season. I understand that the Co. Committee of Agriculture are initiating a sheep-breeding scheme this year, and it is probable that a number of rams will be located in the poorer areas. The needs of farmers in County Cavan can be adequately met by a further extension of the existing schemes."
Does the Minister not consider that the conditions in this area are of such a nature as demand more consideration from his Department, and will he be prepared to send an inspector to examine the conditions there, and compare them with the conditions in the areas that are referred to as congested? I might add that the scheme of the County Cavan Co. Committee of Agriculture is not availed of in the area to which I refer as regards premium bulls, and cannot be availed of by these poor people.
Mr. HOGAN
It is impossible to draw the line and say that such is a congested district and that on the other side there is a different class of land and people from the point of view of prosperity. It would be impossible to draw a line which would be satisfactory. The fact is that schemes are being availed of, as the figures show. In the case of bulls the number has increased from 22 to 36 in three years. I think they have increased further this year. That is as between 1925 and 1928. There was a big increase also between 1922 and 1925. So that from 1922 the number of bulls in that district has been steadily increasing. The same applies in a greater degree to the boars. So that obviously the present schemes are being taken full advantage of. There may be special districts where the people are extremely poor, but as regards the district mentioned they were offered two bulls on very easy terms and did not take them.
I understand that as far as the other portions of the county are concerned the Minister is correct, but I can say that the schemes are not being availed of in this area. I should like to say that there is a scheme in existence in Fermanagh, which is on the Border on one side of the area to which I refer, and in Leitrim on the other side, and I think these people are entitled to special consideration from the Department.