asked the Minister for Agriculture the present position about fencing on the Blake estate area of mountain land suitable for sheep grazing, as requested by the farmers of the Cloughmore and Bántrach areas of Connemara, County Galway.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - County Galway Land Fencing.
6.
An officer of my Department's farm development service visited the area some months ago and discussed the proposed fencing scheme with a number of the farmers concerned. The relevant application form was supplied to the farmers' spokesman but has not yet been returned to the local office. When received the proposals will be investigated without delay.
Is it not a fact that the form was sent in with the names of the people agreeable to taking part in this scheme? Is it necessary for another special form to be completed? Has the Minister received a form showing the various names?
The information I have been given suggests that the necessary information was not made available to the local office, and the Deputy will appreciate that I must go on that information. I would think there would be further investigation in order to determine what may usefully be done in this area.
Would the Minister be good enough to pursue this, because these people have signified their willingness to take part in the scheme and there appears to have been some muddle?
There may be a difficulty in getting the agreement of all the farmers to the fencing proposals. This may be the problem. Certainly I will investigate the matter.