asked the Minister for Agriculture in view of the backlog of western drainage scheme grant applications and the slow rate of progress in dealing with them if and when he proposes to have additional funds made available.
35.
Written Answers. - Western Drainage Scheme.
34.
asked the Minister for Agriculture the reason applications for the western drainage scheme received after 30 September 1981 are not being considered by his Department; and if he will make immediate provision for the considerations of all applications received in his Department so that farmers in the west of Ireland can proceed with the drainage and improvement of their lands.
I propose to take Questions Nos. 34 and 35 together.
The number of applications so far received under the western drainage scheme is more than can be catered for within the 150,000 hectares ceiling set by the relevant EEC Directive. It may not, therefore, be possible to accommodate applications received after 30 September 1981 under the present scheme. It will take at least until the late spring of 1984 to process and approve applications that will exhaust the full 150,000 hectares and in the meantime the course to be adopted in relation to outstanding applications will be examined in the light of the budgetary position.