asked the Minister for Finance what is the present position regarding grants for bog development schemes, minor employment schemes and rural employment schemes in the Sligo-Leitrim constituency; and what moneys are available for such schemes in the constituency for the present financial year.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Employment Schemes.
36.
Grants under these schemes have been discontinued. Grants for accommodation and bog roads and minor drainage works are now available only under the Rural Improvements Scheme. The 1966-67 provision for that scheme for the country as a whole is £250,000. There is no special allocation for any county or constituency as all applications are considered individually in the order in which they are received.
Is the Parliamentary Secretary aware that in County Mayo many small farmers and others have been unable to get their turf from the bogs and their hay from the meadows as a result of the failure of the Parliamentary Secretary to provide enough money to have the roads repaired last year?
I am not so aware.
If he comes down to my area, I will show him around a little.
The consolidation of the minor employment and the bog development schemes with the rural improvement schemes has come into effect only quite recently and could have no effect at all on the work of the Special Employment Schemes Office in the past 12 months.
It could not have any effect if there is no money available to do the work.
Did I understand the Parliamentary Secretary to say there was no money available for bog development?
Yes, I think the Deputy understood that.
Or minor relief schemes?
That is right.
I am calling Question No. 37. Deputies are constantly interrupting.
We are trying to find out the truth.
Tell the truth, that there is no money.
They have gone bust.
The bog development schemes have been consolidated with the rural improvements schemes for the coming year. I have said that at least once before, and that is what Deputy Reynolds wants to find out.
The Parliamentary Secretary is aware that this entails a local contribution which will not be forthcoming?
That is right.
And there is no such thing as a free grant in future?
Deputy Donnellan understands this is Question Time?
Deputy Donnellan is seeking the truth.
This is Question Time.
Thank goodness, Deputy Donnellan is here to get the truth.
(Cavan): Would the Parliamentary Secretary tell us what will be the effect of the amalgamation of the bog improvements schemes and the minor employment schemes with the rural improvements schemes? Is it a fact that there will be no longer a 100 per cent grant under the minor employment schemes?
For the moment, yes, that is the position.
Only Deputy Donnellan was here to show it up, that would not have come to the knowledge of Dáil Éireann.
Deputy Dillon is quite wrong. I said at least twice that the bog development schemes and the minor employment schemes have been amalgamated with the rural improvements schemes.
(Interruptions.)
If Deputy Donnellan were not here, the information would not have been given.
Deputy Dillon was too thick to absorb what was being said.