asked the Minister for Agriculture if he will state whether he has seen a newspaper report stating that he had decided to abandon the farm buildings improvement scheme for the present year and that the reasons for this decision were: (a) economy, and (b) because the scheme had been introduced by the previous administration; and, if so, whether he will state if the report referred to is correct.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Farm Buildings Improvement Scheme.
I have seen the newspaper report referred to by the Deputy. It is, as he might expect, quite untrue.
Will any work be done under the farm improvements scheme this year?
Inasmuch as the Deputy is responsible for the publication of the report referred to, doubtless my reply that it is quite untrue answers the supplementary which he has addressed to me.
Did the Minister not inform the Dáil last week that no work would be done under the scheme this year?
I informed the Dáil of nothing of the kind, and the Deputy knows that perfectly well.
Did the Minister not state in the Dáil here on 1st June that it is unlikely that construction work under the scheme can be started in this year?
Under what scheme?
The farm buildings improvement scheme.
Now sit down and read that over again.
I want to ask will any work be done this year under the farm buildings improvement scheme?
The answer is that under the farm buildings improvement scheme it is unlikely that construction work will be done this year because my predecessor left me with a bequest of 22,000 unopened applications under that scheme.
25,000.
In regard to the farm improvements scheme work is proceeding and the examination of schemes under the farm buildings improvement scheme will proceed with the utmost rapidity and, as soon as they can be undertaken, will be undertaken.
The question relates to the farm buildings improvement scheme. The Minister says that no work will be done under that this year.
As to construction work, it is highly unlikely that anything will be done for the reason that I had 22,000 or more unopened applications under that scheme when I came into office.
No work will be done?
Plently of work is being done.