Vol. 324 No. 2
asked the Minister for Agriculture if he is aware that children of farmers, who formerly resided in County Waterford, now residing in the Borough of Waterford, are not eligible for scholarships to agricultural colleges; if he will make special provision for these cases; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
24.
asked the Minister for Agriculture if he is aware that the agricultural scholarship schemes as administered by the county committees of agriculture discriminate against the children of people who live in urban areas; if he will take steps to end this discrimination; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
With the permission of the Ceann Comhairle, I propose to take Questions Nos. 23 and 24 together.
Up to the present year scholarships to agricultural colleges have been awarded by the county committees of agriculture, which have in most cases confined elegibility for them to persons resident or owning land in their functional areas, which exclude urban areas. In doing so committees were acting in accordance with the Agriculture Acts. In the case of Waterford, the committee made special provision in their scheme to enable the children of residents in the urban areas of the county to be awarded scholarships after the requirements of qualified candidates from the rural areas had been met. I understand that the sole qualified urban candidate was in fact awarded a scholarship under this provision.
In future years the award of these scholarships will be a function of An Chomhairle Oiliúna Talmhaíochta. The matters raised by the Deputy have been brought to the attention of ACOT.
Does the Minister agree that children of parents who live in an urban area are just as much entitled to a scholarship to an agricultural college as children of parents who live in rural areas? Does the Minister agree that the scheme, as presently operated, discriminates against children from urban areas?
I understand that this matter arises because of the extension of the borough boundary in Waterford.
Question No. 24 is of a general nature.
It is basically a matter for ACOT to determine whether children from urban areas should be awarded scholarships.
Does the Minister agree that under the scheme children of parents living in urban areas who wish to avail of such scholarships are deprived of doing so by virtue of their residence? Does the Minister agree that that is not very democratic?
Agricultural scholarships are awarded to sons or daughters of farmers with the intention of getting young people to return to the land. Those living in urban areas, unless they have land in a rural areas, do not qualify. If their parents have land in a rural area they automatically qualify. We want most of the money paid to sons and daughters of farmers who will return to the land thereby improving farmers' incomes in general.
