asked the Minister for Economic Planning and Development if his attention has been drawn to an estimate made by the Director of An Foras Talúntais that the country contains about 3,500,000 acres of undrained, derelict, or otherwise undeveloped land; and in what way his plans for economic development will take account of this situation, with particular regard to the employment potential implicit in the reclamation of this area, and its bringing into continuous agricultural and forestry production.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Undeveloped Land.
14.
I am aware of the reference on the lines indicated by Deputy Kelly.
I agree that there are considerable areas of land throughout the country that could be improved by drainage or other forms of land improvement.
There are many reasons for this lack of proper land development. There are considerable areas where field drainage is not possible at present because of lack of adequate outfall. Added to this is the structural problem of Irish agriculture with its many small holdings and the high average age of their owners.
More than 2.5 million acres have been improved under the Department of Agriculture schemes over the last thirty years and there are generous grants, amounting on average to 50 per cent of the cost, available under the farm modernisation scheme for drainage and reclamation works.
I would expect that the process of reclamation will be considerably accelerated in the future as a result of a proposal tabled by the EEC Commission which will shortly come before the Council of Ministers of Agriculture, that Community funds be provided towards the drainage of certain rivers under the Arterial Drainage Programme in the West of Ireland. The proposal is that the Community would pay half the cost, about £15 million over a five-year period. The proposal also contains a sub provision to allow financial assistance to co-operatives to purchase suitable drainage machinery. Naturally, the Government will be doing everything in their power to get these proposals agreed by the Council of Ministers.
The employment potential in an acceleration of field drainage work is difficult to assess. Most of the actual work is now done by machinery. There would of course be some extra direct employment and the increased output from improved land will itself lead to more jobs in the processing industries.
Would the Minister agree that the Irish situation is unique among the rest of the EEC countries in as much as those derelict acres represent a potential resource which none of the other EEC countries has? In view of the size of that potential resource and of its employment potential would the Minister not agree with me that merely to treat the thing as a matter in which EEC aid may or may not result in partial reclamation of some of this land reflects a not very urgent recognition by him of the possibilities here?
I am satisfied that there is considerable scope for expansion in agricultural output and, therefore, scope for employment in the processing of that increased output. There is a variety of possible policy measures which could help to bring about that result. As in so many other areas it is a question of determining the scale of priorities and establishing the areas in which the greatest benefit can be gained from any given level of expenditure. Therefore, while I fully recognise the contribution which the improvement of land through drainage works can bring about, I cannot just automatically accept that of itself that must be the most urgent priority in the whole field.
Would the Minister agree, even hypothetically, that if this country were inhabited by a population of Dutch people with a 10 per cent unemployment rate he would not give a holding reply of that kind?
I am not answering hypothetical questions.
(Interruptions.)
Does the Minister not like answering any embarrassing questions?
I do not mind answering questions.