asked the Minister for Agriculture whether he will state the reason for the delay with applications under the land project from County Offaly.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Offaly Land Project Applications.
Mr. O'Higgins
Mr. Walsh
I do not accept the suggestion in the Deputy's question that there is undue delay in County Offaly in dealing with cases where farmers wish to carry out the work themselves. In regard to the cases of applicants who wish my Department to do the work for them, I am aware that a number of farmers in all counties, who have applied to have reclamation work on their holdings carried out by the Department, are anxious to have the work attended to at an early date. Work is being pushed forward as expeditiously as possible, having regard to the practical limitations arising from the development of the operations of the land project generally and to the rate at which it is possible for the available staff to plan schemes of work for execution by machinery.
Does the Minister advert to the fact that in Laois and Offaly, as compared with other counties, only 50 per cent. of the completed forms received and registered is represented by the people approved for grants, whereas in most other counties nearly two-thirds of the forms received and registered are approved for grant?
Mr. Walsh
The Deputy must have regard to the size of the areas in which work has to be carried out. I wonder if he takes cognisance of that before he makes such a statement. Some counties may have very large areas while other counties may have very small areas, and that may be responsible for the delay in approving schemes.