asked the Minister for Agriculture if, in view of the fact that the lime subsidy per ton appears to be greatest in counties where the deficiency of lime appears to be least, he will say whether he intends to alter the scheme and put it on a more rational basis.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Lime Subsidy.
As explained in my reply to a previous question from the Deputy, the rate of subsidy allowed to applicants under the lime subsidy scheme in each county is fixed by the committee of agriculture, after consideration of the local conditions prevailing in regard to supplies of lime in the county. It is not proposed to alter this arrangement.
Surely the Minister appreciates that it is fixed on the basis of his grant and if his grant is not fixed in relation to the acidity problem in each county, then we have a scheme operating which is not a rational scheme? The figures the Minister has given surely indicate that that is so.
There are many considerations which must be kept in mind when fixing the allocation to each county, including the acidity, as the needs of the county are kept in mind.
Another important consideration the Minister ought to bear in mind—I am sure he does—is that very often you find the acidity problem is remote from the source of calcium and because of the remoteness the Minister should take into consideration the difficulties of securing the necessary calcium in that particular county and consequently the subsidy should operate in that county at a high rate. Is the Minister bearing that in mind?
These things have to be kept in mind.