asked the Minister for Lands whether instructions have been issued by his Department that work in connection with improvements on divided farms should be carried out by the allottees rather than by the employment of casual labour, as has been the practice.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Imporvements on Divided Farms.
To finance employment schemes in the areas where the numbers seeking work are greatest, the Government increased the Special Employment Schemes Vote by £250,000 to which a contribution of £53,000 was yielded from the Improvements Subhead of the Vote for Lands.
As everyone knows, Land Commission allotments are of substantial value and they are given on moderate repayment terms to the allottees. To cater for the greatest number with the funds available,, it has been decided to require allottees to co-operate with the Land Commission by making reasonable contributions, in labour and materials, towards the imporvement of their allotments.
Inclusive of the price of the land and expense of improvements and administration, the cost of ordinary allotments works out, on average, at about £48 an acre of which only £12 is repayable, the allottee's annunity being halved. In effect, therefore, allottees benefit from the Exchequer to the extent of about £42 an acre. To minimise expense, it is surely not unreasonable to encourage allottees to help with the improvement works on their allotments.
Would the Minister mind repeating the first paragraph in his reply, dealing with the £53,000? I did not catch it at first.
To finance employment schemes in the areas where the numbers seeking work are greatest, the Government increased the Special Employment Schemes Vote by £250,000 to which a contribution of £53,000 was yielded from the Improvement Subhead of the Vote for Lands.
Is that in excess of the additional contribution made for balancing the Budget?
It was mentioned by the Minister for Finance in his Budget speech as one of the savings.
How did he let that cat out of the bag?
Has the Minister determined where the other £27,000 is coming from?
The amount of money remaining is what the previous Minister decided.
How does it remain the same if you take £53,000 from it?
If the Deputy asks the Minister, the question will be answered.
The Minister for Finance must be a miracle worker when you can have a sum minus £53,000 and it gives the same thing.