asked the Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries if he is aware that, in cases where smallholders have been allotted additional land from Land Commission division of estates and where these smallholders have increased the numbers of their cattle to make use of the additional land, they have been refused grants under the heifer subsidy scheme; and if he will take steps to ensure that such persons receive the grants whenever they increase their herds, regardless of the fact that there may have been cattle previously on the land they have been allotted by the Land Commission.

The objective of the scheme is an overall increase in the country's cattle population. Regard must, therefore, be had, in the type of case the Deputy refers to, to the number of cows previously carried, not only on the applicant's old holding but also on the new acquisition. If this were not done, grants would be paid in cases where there is no increase, or possibly even a decrease, in the number of cows on the land.

63.

asked the Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries the total amount of grants sanctioned for payment under the calved heifer subsidy scheme from the inception of the scheme to date.

64.

asked the Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries the total number of individuals to whom grants under the calved heifer subsidy scheme have been sanctioned for payment from the inception of the scheme to date.

I propose, with your permission, a Cheann Comhairle, to take Questions Nos. 63 and 64 together.

Up to 25th February, 1966, grants amounting to £5,575,920 in respect of 371,728 calved heifers had been sanctioned for payment to 118,265 applicants.

What percentage?

Ninety-three per cent of all applicants have been paid.

Where did the money go?

Straight into the farmers' pockets.

It did not go to the farmers of Donegal.

I will give the Deputy the figures for Donegal.

We do not want the figures. We want the money.

65.

asked the Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries if he will state in regard to the calved heifer scheme the number of individuals who have been paid to date grants totalling (a) over £1,500, (b) £1,000 to £1,500, (c) £750 to £1,000, (d) £300 to £750, (e) £75 to £300 and (f) £15 to £75; and the total amounts sanctioned for payment of grants in each of these categories.

I propose, with your permission, a Cheann Comhairle, to furnish the information requested in the form of a tabular statement to be circulated in the Official Report.

Following is the statement:—

Separate figures in respect of (e) and (f) are not available.