asked the Minister for Agriculture if he will state (a) the amount of the grants made to farmers under the land improvements scheme; (b) whether he will consider increasing the grant to the full estimated cost of improvements, having regard to the amount of such work required to be done on small farms in counties such as Cavan, etc.; (c) if he is aware that, on farms which are maintained by family labour, the increased grants would enable improvement works to be carried out by these families during the winter months when normal farm work is slack; and (d) whether he will consider extending the improvements scheme to embrace farm buildings.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Land Improvements Scheme.
|
(a) Financial Year |
Expenditure on Grants |
|
£ |
|
|
1940-41 |
1,600 |
|
1041-42 |
121,200 |
|
1942-43 |
178,900 |
|
1943-44 |
243,000 |
|
1944-45 |
327,500 |
|
1945-46 (estimated) |
350,000 |
|
Total |
£1,222,200 |
(b) and (c). Grants are equivalent to 50 per cent. of the estimated labour cost of approved works. As the scheme is at present operated there are considerably more applicants than can absorb the total sum made available for the scheme in each financial year. This indicates that the present rate of grant is sufficiently attractive to farmers who wish to carry out necessary improvement works on their holdings. Any increase in the proportion of grant would have the effect of reducing the number of applications which could be accepted and lessening the volume of work which could be effected. In the circumstances I am not prepared to consider an increase in the rate to grant offered.
(d). Grants are at present provided under the scheme for the laying of concrete floors in outoffices, erection of concrete stall divisions and concrete feeding troughs in byres and the plastering of walls inside byres; construction of concrete water tanks, liquid manure tanks, silos, concrete stands for corn stacks and cattle enclosures with walls of concrete or stone and mortar for the purpose of facilitating the making of farmyard manure.
This is as much as can be done in the direction of providing or improving buildings under the scheme as at present constituted, but the possibility of assisting farmers to improve and modernise their farm buildings generally is being examined.
In view of the highly satisfactory results which have been obtained, in the shape of grants, from the expenditure of this money, will the Minister use his influence with the Minister for Finance to see that the total amount made available will be increased?
I will do my best.
Mr. Morrissey
Can the Minister say off hand the proportion of applications which can be met out of the amounts at present available?
I am not able to say, but it is a very high proportion.
Mr. Morrissey
Would it be 50 per cent?
It is very much higher-nearer to 90 per cent.