asked the Minister for Agriculture if he will state (a) how many applications were received in his Department from West Galway for Aberdeen-Angus bulls in the past year; (b) how many were allocated; and (c) how many were refused, and the reason for refusal.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - West Galway Bull Applications.
Minister for Agriculture (Mr. Moylan)
Under my Department's scheme for the location of bulls in the congested districts, the number of applications received from West Galway for Aberdeen-Angus bulls in the past season was 22. Seven of the applicants were ineligible under the scheme because they resided within the prescribed limit of two-and-a-half statute miles from existing holders of special-term or premium bulls of the same breed.
Bulls were allocated to seven of the 15 eligible applicants.
It was not possible to allocate bulls to the remaining eight applicants because the demand for Aberdeen-Angus bulls throughout the congested districts under the scheme far exceeded, as in previous seasons, the numbers that could be supplied and in making the allocations preference had to be given to applications from areas where, having regard to the objects of the scheme, there was considered to be a prior need for such bulls.