(Limerick West), Mr. H. Byrne and Mr. Kitt asked the Minister for Agriculture if he will increase substantially the grant-in-aid payable to Macra na Feirme.
Ceisteanna-Questions. Oral Answers. - Macra na Feirme Grant-in-Aid.
10.
Mr. Noonan
Because of the severe budgetary difficulties it has not been possible to increase the level of grant assistance given by my Department to Macra na Feirme in 1983.
(Limerick West): Is the Minister aware of the date on which the last percentage increase was given?
The last increase was given in 1981. The grant has been constant since then. It has been £45,000 in the years 1981, 1982 and 1983.
(Limerick West): Has the Minister had requests from Macra na Feirme to increase the grant in aid?
Yes. Of course, I have had requests from Macra na Feirme and from every organisation under the control of my Department, or attached to it.
Does the Minister accept that Macra na Feirme are a wonderful rural organisation and have had great success? Is he further aware that in the recent past, because of lack of funds from his Department, Macra have not been able to replace people who, for their own reasons, had to leave the organisation?
I am so aware. I am also aware that Macra have done tremendous work for the young farmers. On a recent visit to the Spring Show, I saw an illustrious list of past members of the organisation, including Deputy Byrne. He and Deputy Noonan are two of the shining examples. I would give the organisation more money if I could, but there are restrictions. I might point out that Macra have also received in the current year £25,000 from the Department of Education. There is a further possibility that they will receive an extra £80,000 from the Youth Employment Agency.
Can the Minister tell us whether an increase was made in the Estimates of 1982 which were prepared by the previous Government?
That is a separate question.
There was no increase.
I am glad that the Minister has mentioned the importance of education to Macra na Feirme. I hope the Government will look at ways of helping them, either through the Department of Education or the Youth Employment Agency. Is the Minister aware that Macra have been involved in the west in developing tillage and have a beet-growing competition in Galway? Would he be able to get his Department to assist Macra in the west where they are developing the growing of beet?
I am only too willing to assist if any Deputy has a specific problem. They will find I am very approachable and that I will get my Department to investigate the matter raised.
Is the Minister aware of the extra 10 per cent differential grant that can be made available through EEC sources for Macra na Feirme members' farm development? Does he intend to pursue that with the EEC?
If I were, I would venture to ask why it was not used in 1981 and 1982.
Question No. 11, Deputy Shatter.
Arising out of the Minister's reply——
We are indulging in argument now.
Is the Minister aware that one of the sources of funding for Macra na Feirme was a milk levy which has decreased very recently because of the dispute between the farming organisations? Because of this decrease and because the Minister agrees that this organisation does tremendous work——
Could the Deputy please try to frame short questions?
——and as they have produced illustrious sons, as the Minister himself has said — and I am delighted that Deputy Connaughton, the Minister of State is also one of them — would the Minister now consider increasing——
Would the Deputy please avoid throwing bouquets or buckets and get on with the short question?
As it has worked already, I thought I would try my hand at it as well. Because funding to Macra has now decreased from other sources, and because he agrees that it is a great organisation will the Minister consider increasing the funding?
I am so smothered in bouquets that I have forgotten the original question. If I could, I would — that is the gist of it.