asked the Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries the number of chief agricultural officers who have returned the application forms which they received in connection with the farm modernisation scheme.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Farm Modernisation Scheme.
24.
Cavan) (for the Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries): Up to the present two county committees of agriculture have forwarded to the Department the application forms which they had on hands.
Is the Parliamentary Secretary aware that it is practically four months since those applications were made? There are quite a number of progressive farmers waiting to be included in this farm modernisation scheme as they had waited quite a few months until it came in. Is he further aware that this has held up a whole year's programme on them? They wanted to have those schemes processed before the 1st of May at the very latest.
(Cavan): I am not personally so aware but I will convey the Deputy's suggestion to the Minister.
When does the Minister expect to start processing some of those applications?
(Cavan): I understand the Department have about 400 applications at the moment and no doubt they are in the processing process.
When do the Department expect to have decisions on the first of them?
(Cavan): The Deputy will understand that I would not have direct knowledge of that. He should take the matter up with the Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries.
The Minister stated there are about 400 applications waiting to be processed in the Department of Agriculture.
(Cavan): I did not say that.
There are quite a number in the Department.
(Cavan): There are 400 in the Department.
There are 400 in the Department waiting to be processed.
(Cavan): No. I said they are in the process of being processed.
(Interruptions.)
What method of processing those does the Minister intend to use if the processing has not started? What follow-up will there be or how long will we have to wait until this scheme is under way?
Do not let us embark on a statement.
We will have to wait until they are put out of Government.
Order.
(Cavan): The question was asked how many county committees of agriculture had forwarded the application forms to the Department. I informed the Deputy who put down the question that two such committees have returned the forms.
How many applications were concerned in the returns from those two committees?
(Cavan): I am sorry I have not got that information on the file.
Question No. 25. Will the Minister please reply to Question No. 25.
Out of the number of applications received from thousands of farmers only a small number have been processed. Does the Minister consider this is satisfactory?
(Cavan): I am perfectly satisfied the Minister does not consider it satisfactory progress.
The Chair is being ignored by both sides of the House now. Question No. 25.
(Cavan): I know he is extremely anxious that he should get the full co-operation of everybody.
(Interruptions.)