asked the Minister for Agriculture if he will state (1) what additional services are being applied to Bansha, County Tipperary, under his Department's parish scheme; (2) the manner in which these additional services are being financed; and (3) the conditions under which the scheme will be applied to other parishes.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Parish Scheme—Bansha.
(1) An inspector of my Department has been assigned to the Bansha parish to deal at first hand with the various problems arising from the organisation of the parish, the most serious and urgent of which are the raising of the fertility of the soil, the extension of the use of suitable farm machinery, the improvement of live stock, particularly dairy cattle, the reduction of losses due to disease, and the improvement of farm buildings. To these ends effort is being directed towards having a soil survey made; encouraging the large-scale purchase and use of lime and artificial fertilisers; arranging for the co-operative purchase of agricultural requirements, including machinery; establishing a cow-testing association; reducing losses in cattle production through infertility and disease; encouraging participation in the Department's farm improvement and other schemes, the use of highclass seeds, the making of grass and potato silage, the drainage and improvement of lands, and the establishment of a poultry hatchery and arranging for lectures, classes and exhibitions of films of agricultural interest; (2) the remuneration of the inspector is paid out of the appropriate sub-head of my Department's Vote; (3) the question of extending the scheme to other parishes is being considered.
Having regard to the fact that services are being provided for this particular parish out of public funds is it not desirable that a similar scheme should be available to other parishes which comply with prescribed conditions? Will such conditions be published so that other parishes may avail of them?
I am happy to inform the Deputy that this dazzling programme I have read out is no more than the ordinary service of the Department of Agriculture available to any citizens of this State situated anywhere in it. No special service is being made available to the people of Bansha except the provision of the parish agent whose function merely is to direct the attention of the people of the parish to the services available and help them and encourage them to avail of them. But every single service there set out can be availed of by any citizen of any parish in any part of Ireland if he will write a halfpenny post card to the Department of Agriculture.
Has the Minister not definitely stated that he has appointed a special agent or inspector for this particular parish? Surely that must be recognised as a special additional service to one particular parish.
I said that, Deputy, there is the installation of a resident parish agent, but apart from that every one of the services I have read out can be availed of by any citizen of the State by sending a halfpenny post card to the Department of Agriculture saying he wishes to avail of some service— and he need not stamp the post card either.
Question No. 45.
Will the Minister say if an official of the Department of Agriculture will be made available in any county or area for the purpose of taking a soil survey?
But there is one available. God knows the chairman of the county council ought to know that.
The Minister cannot get over it that way. Will the Minister make available in any county council area in this State an official of the Department of Agriculture, paid directly and wholly out of State funds, for the purpose of taking a soil survey of the particular counties?
But there is available in South Tipperary——
Answer "yes" or "no."
Allow me to answer, please. There is available in South Tipperary, in County Wexford, in County Carlow and every administrative county in this country not one, but several of them, anxious and willing, on receipt of a halfpenny post card from any farmer, small or large, to come and test the soil of his farm for him.
The postage rate has gone up.
Is the Minister further aware that no officials are available except committee of agriculture instructors who are fully occupied with other work, and will the Minister carry out the promise he made in public to the farmers of this country, and provide, at State expense, for a soil survey to be taken when requested?
I have a Bill which will come up for Second Reading to-morrow. It will enable the Deputy, as chairman of the county council, to provide the funds necessary for the appointment——
At the expense of the rates?
I would remind Ministers and Deputies that there are 122 questions on the Order Paper.
I take it, Sir, that I must answer supplementary questions that you allow.
We are trying to get the Ministers to answer some and he will not.