Vol. 396 No. 6
164 Mr. Cotter asked the Minister for the Environment the grants which are available to farmers in disadvantaged areas who wish to provide access to land which is at present unproductive as a result of its inaccessibility to machinery; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
My Department do not provide grants to farmers for this purpose. However, under the local improvements scheme the Department pay State grants to local authorities in respect of certain improvement works in rural areas, including the improvement of non-public roads serving the local agricultural community. In order to qualify, a road improvement project must benefit two or more parcels of land owned or occupied by different persons, or serve the public. The selection of the individual projects for funding under the local improvements scheme is the responsibility of the local authorities having regard to detailed guidelines issued by the Department.
