asked the Minister for Agriculture the number of farmers in (a) the west of Ireland and (b) County Donegal who have availed themselves of the Programme for Western Development.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Programme for Western Development.
3.
I assume the Deputy is referring to those elements of the programme for western development which relate to investment by individual farmers. The information is set out in a tabular statement which I propose to circulate with the Official Report.
The following is the statement:
Programme for Western Development
Position at 30 April 1983
|
Western Counties |
Co. Donegal |
||
|
Applications |
Approvals |
Applications |
Approvals |
|
Division of Commonages |
|||
|
155 (1,131 shareholders) |
32 (167 shareholders) |
6 (20 shareholders) |
3 (14 shareholders) |
|
Mountain and Hill Pasture Improvement |
|||
|
2,000 |
589 |
681 |
220 |
|
Lowland Reclamation |
|||
|
8,091 |
5,197 |
452 |
118 |
|
Shelter Belt Scheme |
|||
|
548 |
273 |
62 |
44 |
|
Orientation of Agricultural Production |
|||
|
376 |
19 |
21 |
Nil |
|
Roads serving commonages and mountain and hill grazing |
|||
|
— |
70 |
18 |
|
|
Private Afforestation |
|||
|
268 |
152 |
26 |
12 |
Note: Where a farmer applies for more than one element of the package, the application is included in the figures given for each of these elements.
My question asked for the number of farmers in (a) the West of Ireland and (b) County Donegal who have availed themselves of the programme for western development. All I asked for were two figures.
It is not as simple as that because it is subdivided again into commonage, mountain, hill pasture, improvement and shelter belts, and all that kind of thing.
I appreciate the cost of questions but the Minister has gone further than I requested and he has given information I do not require. I required the number of people in County Donegal and the West of Ireland who have availed themselves of the programme for western development. If the Minister's Department cannot obtain that sort of information for me then we will have to put a question mark right over their heads.
The Chair discourages supplementaries on tabular statements.
Having read the question, the Chair in his wisdom will agree I simply asked for two figures.
The Chair is not concerned with answers.
I have the greatest respect for the Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture and for the officials of the Department but I asked a straightforward question and if the officials are not in a position to answer a straightforward question, we must put a question mark over their heads.
If the information is not the correct information I shall certainly try to give the exact answer to the Deputy's question. I apologise if I have upset the Deputy by misinterpreting the question.
I want to put on record that this question did not require an answer in tabular form and the situation is that answering questions in tabular form, prevents us from asking supplementary questions.
Might I suggest to Deputy Gallagher that he should bring this matter up at the Committee on Procedure and Privileges.
There was no necessity for the Minister to give all the information he apparently has given to the question I asked. There should be no necessity to take the matter up before the Committee on Procedure and Privileges if the Minister would give just the information asked for. I asked a simple question but reviews seem to be the password in this House.
Mr. Leonard
It would be much more orderly if the Minister was allowed without nods and winks to answer the question.
I do not know what the Deputy means. I do not know who Deputy Leonard suggests either nodded or winked. I hope he is not suggesting it was the Chair. If such were the implication I would have to ask Deputy Leonard to withdraw his remark.
Mr. Leonard
I have not said the Chair directly. I refer to nods and winks in regard to a question which was apparently regarded as requiring a tabular statement. I asked a question regarding the operation of the scheme and the Minister could not get an opportunity to answer.
I shall leave the matter by saying I am surprised at Deputy Leonard.