asked the Minister for Agriculture if he will state how many farmers in County Dublin have availed of the grants for drainage of agricultural land, and for farmyard improvements schemes, during each of the past two years.
Written Answers. - Drainage of Agricultural Land.
The number of farmers in County Dublin who availed themselves of grants under the farm improvements scheme in respect of drainage works and farmyard improvements was:—
|
1944-45 |
109 |
|
1945-46 |
37 |
1946-47—The number of applications accepted under these headings is 91. It is not possible to state at this stage how many grants may be earned as the scheme will not terminate until 31st March next.
The answers to questions which have not been reached will appear in the Official Report unless the Deputies concerned intimate that they desire to have the questions placed on the Order Paper again.
Mr. Corish
In view of the unsatisfactory reply to Question 45, I should like to have an opportunity of raising the matter on the Adjournment on the first sitting day of next week.
In view of the unsatisfactory reply by the Minister for Finance to Question 28, I ask leave to raise the matter on the Adjournment to-night.
The Chair will have to consider which of the questions will be taken to-night.
Deputy Corish desires to raise his question next week. I am asking leave to raise mine to-night.
The Chair will consider the matter.
I think that it is very unfair that questions addressed to the Minister for Agriculture should have to be left over. That places agriculturists in a very unfair position. Formerly, questions relating to agriculture were answered prior to questions addressed to the Minister for Lands. I notice that questions put to the Minister for Agriculture are now last on the Order Paper, which means that they cannot be answered to-day.
If the Deputy desires to discuss that matter with the Chair, it can be arranged. The Minister for Agriculture is the last Minister appointed. That is the difficulty as regards the placing of the questions. It may be possible, after consultation, to take questions relating to Departments in different order on different days in order that Deputies interested in agriculture may receive oral answers to some of their questions. There was a reason for the position on the Order Paper of questions addressed to the Minister for Agriculture to-day.