asked the Minister for Fisheries and Forestry the reasons that the position of acquisition inspector for County Galway in his Department has not been filled to date despite the fact that this position is vacant for the past four months; if he is aware that the public are not getting the type of service that they are entitled to on account of this situation; the date on which he proposes to fill this vacancy; and if he will make a statement on the entire situation regarding land acquisition.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Land Acquisition Post Vacancy.
4.
In the present situation the filling of each vacancy must be considered in the context of the implication for the Department of the embargo governing the curtailment of numbers in the public service. This inevitably entails deployment of available staff in such a way as to achieve the optimum benefit for the Department.
The vacancy in question was filled on 22 October 1984.
It is expected that, in all, some 5,000 hectares, 12,500 acres, of plantable land will be acquired by my Department in the current year, as against 4,000 hectares last year. I am confident that the intake level will increase further during the period of the national plan.
What is the reason for the second biggest county, one that has to cope with a big disadvantage in that it has a lot of fragmented land, being without an acquisition inspector for a long period? Is the Minister aware that proposals submitted to his Department were dealt with by remote control from Dublin? Is the Minister aware that services for small farmers in those disadvantaged areas were not available during that time and that decisions were made that were not to the satisfaction of local farmers?
A long statement like that is not in order at Question Time.
The vacancy that arose there has now been filled. As the Deputy realises because of the system we operate throughout the public service one does not fill vacancies overnight. A certain process must be gone through for a Department to get a suitable person to fill a vacancy. That has been gone through in this case. The vacancy has now been filled.
Is the Minister stating that the person who filled the vacancy came from outside the forestry division?
I am not implying any such thing.
How can the Minister justify the delay when there were senior experienced staff available to be promoted?
Consequential vacancies arise from such a movement within a Department and arrangements must be made to fill such vacancies as a consequence of moving one official.
I should like to point out to the Minister that farmers in the southern part of the country have experienced great difficulties.
We cannot have speeches at Question Time.
I am not making a speech but I am anxious to mention the dissatisfaction in the area.
The Deputy was in the course of making a speech.
I was drawing attention to the dissatisfaction in the area based on my question.
The Deputy will have to avail of a debate on an Estimate for that.
It is a serious matter when proposals from small farmers in the southern part of County Galway to the Department for an exchange of arable land held by the Department for commonages they own have not been accepted. It is a serious matter that the Department have put mechanically propelled vehicles on this land.
That does not have anything to do with the question. It is not a supplementary question. The Deputy need not assume a pained or aggrieved appearance.
Will the Minister meet a deputation representing those farmers and terminate the excavation work being carried out by these mechanically propelled vehicles until he has done so?
As the Deputy will find out if he asks me, I am at all times available to meet any deputation that he suggests on any issue relating to my Department. I await with interest the Deputy's deputations.
Will the Minister stop the work by the mechanically propelled vehicles?
I will talk to these people in a civil fashion.
Will the Minister outline the reasons for the non-appointment of an acquisition officer or is it true to say it was because his Department did not have any funds to purchase land for afforestation?
That is not so.
There is no money in County Kerry and I am sure the position is the same elsewhere.
As the Deputy is aware, there is always money in Kerry.