With regard to the point raised by Deputy Leonard about facilitating Deputies, I am prepared to co-operate with the Opposition. As we have only one hour and 20 minutes left for this debate, I am prepared to cut my speech.
Estimates, 1983. - Vote 37: Agriculture (Resumed).
Debate resumed on the following motion:
That a sum not exceeding £245,764,000 be granted to defray the charge which will come in course of payment during the year ending on the 31st day of December, 1983, for the salaries and expenses of the Office of the Minister for Agriculture, including certain services administered by that Office, and for payment of certain subsidies and sundry grants-in-aid.
—(Minister for Agriculture.)
(Limerick West): I appreciate what the Minister of State has said. I understand there are more than two speakers eager to speak on each side. Could I suggest to the Minister of State that he conclude at 11 o'clock and perhaps, after that, we could give each speaker ten minutes?
Mr. Leonard
I hope the next debate will be better regulated.
The Chair does not regulate these things and we are wasting time.
I am particularly pleased that the nationally-financed calved heifer scheme is being continued in 1983 and that every farmer who has extra heifers calving this year will be eligible for the £70 grant regardless of whether he had borrowings. I have no doubt but that this change is for the better and will serve to encourage the expansion of the cattle breeding herd that is so vitally needed at this time.
The 1982 scheme was a success in that cow numbers rose and the decline in the cattle breeding herd was reversed. The latest statistics available from the December 1982 enumerations show that, overall, the total breeding herd increased by 30,000 head or 1.3 per cent.
In this connection, the continuation of the EEC calf premium scheme during the 1983-84 marketing year which we secured recently in Brussels will also encourage the expansion of the national cattle herd. This scheme, which is totally financed by the EEC will be worth about £40 million in a full scheme year. It will also be open to every farmer with a calf or calves and no restriction will apply to it. Just as with the calved heifer scheme, an applicant will receive premium regardless of whether or not he has an off-farm income or borrowings.
The calf and calved heifer schemes are open to all farmers and the EEC suckler cow scheme is open to full-time farmers. These three provide a very attractive package of incentives worth some £55 million this year to livestock farmers to increase their herd sizes with a consequent increase in spin-off benefits to the rest of the community — for example employment in meat processing factories etc. Growth is needed in this area as in every other if we are to have a healthy and thriving agricultural industry in the future.
On the subject of disease eradication, the Government have played their part by increasing the provision for the TB and brucellosis eradication schemes this year — the increased provision being accounted for mainly by the introduction of substantially higher rates of reactor grants in January last. It is encouraging to see from the early results on the present round of testing of herds that there is a significant improvement in the overall TB situation with a reduction of about 30 per cent in the number of herds locked up with TB. We must capitalise on this situation and make every effort possible to effect a further reduction in TB infection levels. The co-operation, commitment and involvement of farmers, farming organisations, the veterinary profession, marts, co-operatives are the keys to further success. This can be demonstrated by the results achieved in a pilot scheme project in the Mallow area, here we had a black-spot as far as TB was concerned with an incidence level in herds of some 16 per cent in 1981. Through the co-operation and involvement of local farmers and organisations the incidence level in this area has now been reduced to 2 per cent. There is no reason why the Mallow achievement cannot be repeated elsewhere given the necessary co-operation and good-will.
It is important that the Mallow achievements should be widely publicised——
Debate adjourned.