asked the Minister for Agriculture whether the Department intends to extend payment under the western drainage scheme to include applications received after 30 September 1981.
Written Answers. - Western Drainage Scheme.
421.
Mr. Coughlan
The number of applications 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 and it may not, therefore, be possible to accommodate applications received after 30 September 1981 under the present scheme. Consideration is being given to how best to deal with outstanding applications in the light of the present economic and budgetary position.