asked the Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries if he will indicate the information available in his Department on the operation of the French land reclamation scheme; the total acreage reclaimed since the scheme started; the total amount of money which the scheme has cost the French Government since its commencement; the proportion, if any, of the total cost which has been recouped from EEC funds; and if the Government has plans for the implementation of a similar scheme in this country.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Land Reclamation Scheme.
37.
The information at present available to my Department does not give the detailed information asked for. However, a number of French individual projects relating to land drainage and general improvement of infrastructures on an area basis, as distinct from individual farms, have been approved for FEOGA grants in recent years. The proportion of the cost to be recouped from FEOGA would vary from one project to another.
I am satisfied that the incentives available to Irish farmers together with the enhanced returns that can now be obtained from improved land offer every encouragement to carry out field drainage where it is necessary. I do not, therefore, propose to introduce additional drainage schemes.
Arising out of the Parliamentary Secretary's reply or failure to reply, if this scheme is in operation in France and it is contrary to the principles of the EEC as we are told here, I want to know how much of the state's money plus what contribution from the EEC funds are being paid, as it is badly needed here. Why do we not have a similar scheme here? That is the question and I got no answer to it.
The information at my disposal is that the position in France where drainage is carried out on an area basis differs from that in Ireland. Here it is carried out on an individual farm basis and the position is quite different and from information at my disposal the level of grants here compares favourably with that obtaining in France. However, if further information comes to hand on the French scheme, I shall make that information available.
My information is that a substantial amount of money is being paid by the French Government. I do not know if they get contributions from the EEC but if we asked for any scheme similar to this we are told it is contrary to EEC regulations. I want to know, and surely it is the Minister's responsibility to find out what is happening in France.
I have no information as to what the French costs are or the average cost of land drainage to the French Government but I do say that the schemes are carried out on a different basis. It is on an area basis that land reclamation is carried out in France and here it is on an individual farm basis, but the level of grants here is quite good with 50 per cent for the majority of farms transitional and in development. More than 90 per cent of the grants payable under the land reclamation scheme here, possibly in or around 92 per cent, is money from the Irish tax-payer and the amount of EEC money is something in the region of 8 per cent.
The only drainage scheme in operation here is that under the farm modernisation scheme and these are the only grants you can get. My information is that the scheme is completely outside it and it is completely contrary to the Treaty of Rome. That is the information I asked for which I did not get.
The farm modernisation scheme as operated here complies with the appropriate EEC directive. I have given the Deputy what information was at my disposal and there is no need to establish or implement any further drainage schemes here. The existing schemes are quite adequate to meet the demands of our farming community. However, if there is a change in the position in future, that is a matter that will be open to discussion. The only change I can see is that if drainage is to be carried out on an area basis rather than on individual farms as obtains at present, then if syndicates are formed and apply for drainage covering a number of farms that could be something for discussion.
Not only is land reclamation important but so also is major drainage. As far as I can gather, from the Parliamentary Secretary's reply, this is not a priority within the EEC. I want to know why we cannot club to get it done because my area is flooded out.
Order. Questions should seek information, not impart it.
If the position should change and if groups of farmers apply for drainage on an area basis, the application can be considered.
Arising further from the Parliamentary Secretary's reply——
I have given a lot of latitude on the last question.
Is it not true that land drainage qualifies for a FEOGA grant?
That is correct; land drainage qualifies for a FEOGA grant but the Exchequer here paid last year around 92 per cent of the total cost of land reclamation in this country.
Question No. 38 postponed.