asked the Minister for Agriculture if he will give details of the present grant assistance available to farmers for dry land reclamation.
Written Answers. - Dry Land Reclamation Grants.
479.
The following aids for dry land reclamation are available from my Department:
1. Under the farm modernisation scheme aid is available for land improvement including dry land reclamation. The rate of aid as a percentage of approved cost is:
|
Farm category |
Rate |
|
Development farmers |
30 per cent (40 per cent in Disadvantaged Areas) |
|
“Other” farmers |
25 per cent |
|
Commercial farmers |
aid is by way of interest subsidy equivalent to a 15 per cent capital grant. |
2. Under the programme for western development, grants of 70 per cent of the approved cost are available to farmers in the western region in respect of commonage division and improvement, hill and mountain pasture improvement, and lowland reclamation. Grants of 80 per cent of the approved cost are available for necessary access roads in the case of commonage and mountain and hill pastures.