asked the Minister for Agriculture if he will introduce a scheme for the development of the Gaeltacht areas of North Kerry, and, in particular, if he will arrange to have land rehabilitation equipment, including drainage machinery, sent immediately to the Dingle peninsula.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Development of Kerry Gaeltacht.
It is not clear what type of scheme the Deputy has in mind for the development of the Gaeltacht areas of North Kerry, but I would draw his attention to the special supplementary schemes already operated by my Department for the benefit of small-holders in the congested districts and Gaeltacht areas. These schemes include the supply at reduced rates of bulls, rams, day-old chicks, seed oats, seed potatoes, barley seed, fruit and forest trees as well as practical demonstrations in the use of artificial fertilisers and in the cultivation of a wide variety of crops. Should there prove to be a demand for an intensification of these schemes in the North Kerry Gaeltacht I shall be only too happy to do all I can to meet it, as I did before in the case of the Dunquin Gaeltacht.
As to the second part of the question, the limited amount of land reclamation machinery now operated by my Department is employed to its fullest capacity in its existing locations. So far, a contractor who would be prepared to undertake work in suitable cases in the Dingle peninsula has not become available.