asked the Minister for Finance if he will state the latest date by which applications for (a) bog development, and (b) minor employment schemes must be lodged, so as to ensure consideration for inclusion in the next programme of each.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Bog Development and Minor Employment Schemes.
There is no fixed date by which applications for bog development schemes or minor employment schemes should be lodged.
Minor employment schemes are carried out only in the winter period, November to March. The lists of approved works are usually issued in the last week of October, on the expiration of the Employment Period Orders. The work preparatory to the final selection of approved schemes necessarily occupies a period of approximately two to three months. It is desirable, therefore, that applications for minor employment schemes should be made in the first half of the calendar year.
There are two main lists of bog development schemes: a drainage list, usually issued in June, and a road list, usually issued in November. To facilitate inspection arrangements, it is desirable that drainage applications should be made in early autumn after the turf campaign, or very early in spring. Applications for road works should preferably be made in the first half of the calendar year. Within the limits of available funds, consideration is given at any time of the year to specially urgent and important bog development proposals.