asked the Minister for Agriculture whether he is aware that many applicants for grants under the land reclamation project in County Meath have now been waiting over two years to have their claims inspected, and, if so, if he will take steps to have work on this important national project speeded up, if necessary by the appointment of additional staff.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Land Reclamation in Meath.
I am aware that, in County Meath as in other areas, there are arrears in the investigation of applications under the land project. The services of the very considerable technical staff at present employed on the land project are being utilised in the most economic manner, and work is being pressed forward as expeditiously as possible, having regard to the practical limitations arising in the operation of the land project generally and the rate at which it is possible for the available staff to plan schemes of work. Unless the existing staff were to be expanded to an unwarrantable degree, it would not be possible to deal with applications as they come along in such a way as to obviate arrears in inspections. The Deputy can rest assured, however, that, in so far as is feasible, the investigation of applications in County Meath is being speeded up as much as possible.