asked the Minister for Agriculture when he proposes to introduce the grant of £30 per acre to farmers rehabilitating their own land under the land rehabilitation project.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Land Rehabilitation Project Grants.
I would refer the Deputy to the reply which I gave on the 5th February to a previous question from him on this subject. I am not yet in a position to add anything to that reply.
Is the Minister aware that this matter was discussed at the Mayo County Committee of Agriculture approximately a month ago, and that members of the committee said that consequent on a discussion with the Minister, while they were not prepared to say that he had named a definite sum, they were in a position to say that he was contemplating a grant of the order of £30 per acre? Is he aware that in consequence of the announcement of his intention of increasing the grant, the land rehabilitation project work is almost at a standstill because naturally people are not inclined to goahead on the basis of the existing grant if they anticipate the Minister has the intention of increasing it? Would he realise the urgent necessity of making a definite statement at an early date so that the even operation of the scheme could be maintained?
Mr. Walsh
I have already announced in this House that any works in progress and completed at the date of the announcement will come under the new scheme.