Jim Higgins
Ceist:7 Mr. J. Higgins asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food if it is proposed to introduce a new land drainage scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Ceisteanna — Questions. Oral Answers. - Land Drainage Reclamation.
John Connor
Ceist:40 Mr. Connor asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food if it is proposed to revise the dry land reclamation grant with its drainage element under the programme for western development in 1990; and if the farm grant regimes under the farm improvement programme and the programme for western development were discussed at recent EC farm talks.
I propose to take Questions Nos. 7 and 40 together.
As the western package — under which aid is provided for drainage which is ancillary to land reclamation — is due to expire early next year, arrangements are now being made to phase it out. Aid for land reclamation will continue to be available under the farm improvement programme. There are no proposals at present to introduce any further scheme of grants for land drainage work. The question of aid for drainage was not discussed at the recent farm talks.
I thank the Minister of State for his reply. Would he not agree that excellent work was done under the western drainage scheme that has been aborted prematurely? Is he aware that there are 150,000 hectares of land — which would otherwise have lain fallow, idle or swamped — which have been brought into production and that in many cases, particularly in the west, these have meant the difference between viability and non-viability? In view of the fact that there are now over 7,000 applications on file that will not be dealt with, would the Minister agree that the Department would appear to be aborting the scheme well in advance of its true maturity date?
Under the western drainage scheme, which came into operation in January 1979 and was terminated on 31 December 1988, grant aid of approximately £64 million was paid to farmers in respect of 150,000 hectares of field drainage. The cost of that was funded on a 50:50 basis by the Community and the Exchequer. Aid will continue to be available under various other headings in respect of which aid will be available for drainage, which will continue under the terms of the farm improvement programme, provided it comprises part of a land reclamation project.
Would the Minister agree with the import of Deputy Higgins's question, that there were approximately 150,000 hectares — on which I am open to correction — and that the Agricultural Institute identified at least 240,000 other hectares in this country, which could benefit from a scheme such as the western drainage scheme? Would he not agree that there is need for a field drainage régime or grant scheme here given those facts established by the people most competent to do so?
We must examine this question in the context of our membership of the Community and its attitude to the question of expenditure on land reclamation or drainage and the implications of bringing more land into production. While this may not suit our circumstances, as members of the Community we are subject to the constraints imposed by the Community. We must remember the agriculture industry are net beneficiaries of the Community's various payments. It is not anxious to make generous grant aid, which was available previously, available in the future.
Would the Minister not agree that the scheme he has referred to is essentially a dry land reclamation one, covering the removal of fences and scrub and so on, but which fails to address the question of drainage? Furthermore, would he not agree it makes very little economic sense to bring 150,000 hectares into production without, at the same time, providing maintenance grants? Inevitably, it will fall back to its original state unless money is made available on an ongoing basis to drain it.
As I said in my initial reply, grant aid will continue to be made available for drainage work as part of an overall reclamation project under the farm improvement programme in all areas of the country.
A final question from Deputy Connor.
Would the Minister agree that the land in need of drainage is, by and large, held by farmers with uneconomic holdings? The Minister has accepted the advice of the Commission that we should not bring any further land into production. He is refusing to allow any further land to be brought into production——
Relevant questions, please, Deputy.
A good reason for reintroducing a comprehensive drainage scheme is that the incomes that would be affected would be the low incomes, and those of marginalised farmers.
Obviously, any scheme which we may contemplate introducing would be subject to the approval of the Commission and Community. That is true in this case.
Question No. 8, please.
I think Deputies would want me to welcome to the House the President and Secretary General of COPA along with our farm leaders. I am sorry that, due to a misunderstanding, they are not in the Distinguished Visitors' Gallery. I would like to welcome them and I am sure all Members of the House will join me in doing so.
I am sure the House will.