asked the Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries if provision for the increased grants for fencing, surface treatment and limited land reclamation under the mountain grazing scheme is included in the 1972-73 estimate provision for the land project of £4 million which is over £500,000 lower than the total amount provided by original and supplementary estimates for 1971-72; if he expects to introduce a supplementary estimate to cover the increased grants under the mountain grazing scheme; and, if so, when.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Mountain Grazing Scheme Grants.
63.
Provision for the grants in question is included in the 1972-73 Estimate. I do not, at this stage, expect that the introduction of a supplementary estimate will be necessary.
Does the Minister, then, expect that there will be a lower level of land project applications coming for payment during this year than during last year?
No, this need not necessarily be so because last year there was a considerable carryover which was completely eliminated by the end of the last financial year and, therefore, there is no reason to assume that there will be an overall drop in the number of jobs completed or the acreage improved under the land project. It is worth mentioning that the type of weather we have been having in the last few weeks is not good weather for the carrying out of land drainage, as the Deputy knows, as against the very suitable weather we had in the last season. I mention that in passing.
Did the Minister have a long range weather forecast when he drew up his Estimate?
No.