Vol. 358 No. 8
asked the Minister for Agriculture if he will give details of the up-to-date position regarding the extension of the western drainage scheme; the total area of land drained so far; the prior date on which applications already submitted have been accepted; if he has any proposals to extend this date; the amount of money available for the scheme in 1985; and if he will make a statement on the entire drainage situation in the west of Ireland.
7.
asked the Minister for Agriculture if he will sanction approvals under the western drainage scheme for applicants who are awaiting a decision since January 1982; if he will lift the embargo on new applicants under the western drainage scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
8.
asked the Minister for Agriculture the proposals he has for the extension of the western drainage scheme; and when an announcement will be made on this matter.
I propose to take Questions Nos. 6 to 8, inclusive, together.
I would refer Deputies to my reply of 13 December, 1984 which sets out the position regarding the western drainage scheme. At 30 April 1985, 23,912 schemes had been completed relating to 135,372 hectares. A sum of £9 million is provided in the 1985 Estimates for field drainage. Applications under the drainage scheme have not been accepted since 1 February 1984. An examination is proceeding of the options available for dealing with the outstanding applications which cannot be catered for within the extension of the scheme made possible by additional funds provided under the national plan. At this stage it is not possible to anticipate the outcome of the examination and to indicate when further applications can be accepted.
Could the Minister clarify again what he said about applications not being accepted after 1 February 1984?
That is exactly what I said, that applications under the drainage scheme have not been accepted since 1 February 1984.
Does that mean that people who applied between 1 January 1982 and 1 February 1984 will be considered for western drainage grants in the future?
Yes, there is an in-depth review taking place — almost reaching conclusion — about the whole question of drainage, as such. I am more than hopeful that in the very near future the people involved in that limbo situation will be looked after.
I am sure the Minister is aware that the initial projected aim of the western drainage scheme was to drain 150,000 hectares. That was a number of years ago when our party were in power. Can the Minister give any commitment to this House, to farmers in the west, and particularly to those in his own county that the figure of 150,000 hectares targeted will be completed at least in 1985? Furthermore, can he confirm that any applications outstanding from January 1982 — at least for some part of 1982 — will be considered this year for immediate action and commencement of works?
As the Deputy is no doubt aware, we were talking about the plan as first envisaged, which was for 100,000 hectares, which was increased a year or two later by another 50,000 hectares. Because we have almost reached that ceiling it is true that there will be a certain number of applications in the FDS offices dating back to early 1982 that are being looked after at this stage under the old western drainage scheme.
From what the Minister has said it is clear that almost sufficient schemes have been approved up to January 1982, that very few since will be entertained under the limit of 150,000 hectares. Would the Minister confirm that? Secondly, has any scheme been formulated by his Department for submission to Brussels for an extension of the limit of 150,000 hectares and, if so, how many thousand hectares are they seeking?
In answer to the first part of the Deputy's question it is not true to say that the entire ceiling has now been arrived at with regard to the 150,000 hectares. For obvious reasons, particularly because of extra funding from the Exchequer under the national plan, what has happened is that the FDS offices have been instructed to issue approvals up to that level. While it is very difficult to anticipate exactly the number of people who have applied and now wish to go ahead it would appear that applications for the first three or four months of 1982 will be accepted under the old scheme.
In answer to the second part of the Deputy's question, there are at present moves afoot in my Department to initiate a new drainage scheme. For obvious reasons I am not at liberty to announce it. It will mean that there will be adequate funding available for a fairly large amount of drainage and land improvement in the future.
When will it start?
Will it be announced before 20 June?
Would the Deputy like me to announce it before 20 June?
When will the Minister's Department announce what applications will be dealt with by the £9 million he talks about in view of the fact that there is such a backlog of schemes in the Department?
Following a recent review of the FDS offices around the country I have been informed that it is likely that applications up to mid-spring 1982 are likely to be accepted under that old scheme.
This is an extremely important question to my people in the west, a Cheann Comhairle.
Deputy Treacy may not have been here on the last day we had questions when we had a discussion which I think found general acceptance, that was that we should treat Question Time in a reasonable way, getting through a reasonable number each day. That is what I am endeavouring to do now and I am going on to No. 9.
I am asking your permission. Sir, to allow me to ask one supplementary.
I will allow the Deputy one if it is to the point.
The Minister has stated that already some applications for 1982 have been considered. What criteria are used in assessing the merit of these applications and how many have been sanctioned?
It is entirely on the basis of their submission to the FDS office and in strict rotation.
9.
asked the Minister for Agriculture if he will agree to provide the necessary money to carry out drainage in areas which cannot be serviced by the arterial drainage schemes; and if he will consider providing grant-aid for individual farmers or groups of farmers who wish to engage in this development.
Under the field drainage element of the western drainage scheme there is provision for aid to individual farmers or groups for work on small rivers or streams. The acceptance of applications under the western drainage scheme is at present suspended, however, since the number received to date is more than can be catered for within the 150,000 hectare limit set by the EC.
Would the Minister accept that these schemes are of tremendous importance to farmers, in order that they avail of grants for ordinary drainage? Because proper outlets do not exist for drainage it is important that these schemes go ahead. Can the Minister indicate when it will be possible to go ahead with these?
This is tied up with the answer to the last group of questions. I agree with the Deputy that this kind of thing for groups of farmers who need access to main drainage is very important. I am currently looking at that in the light of the proposals I mentioned a few moments ago.
Is it not abundantly clear now to the Minister and to the Government — with the number of farmers willing to participate in these types of programmes — that it is time we had a new scheme formulated? Might I impress on him the urgency of announcing a continuation of this scheme or an increase in its activities?
You are on the record, Deputy.
The Minister has not answered this question and it is the one that every farmer wants to know about, including those in Cavan and Monaghan.
I have already referred to that.
The Minister has not. He talked vaguely about an announcement and that is all we are hearing. It is now three years since any announcement was made about this.
