asked the Minister for Agriculture if he will update the grant costings under the farm modernisation scheme as updating is long overdue.

35.

asked the Minister for Agriculture the plans he has for the updating of national costings under the farm modernisation scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

36.

asked the Minister for Agriculture if he is aware that the farm development service last updated the costs relating to works under the farm development scheme in 1979; and when he proposes to have these works costed at up to date costs.

37.

asked the Minister for Agriculture if he intends to increase the costings for estimating the allowance of grant aid in respect of buildings and other work under the farm modernisation and western drainage schemes.

38.

asked the Minister for Agriculture if he will review urgently the level of estimated costings being used under the farm modernisation grant scheme as the guidelines have not been adjusted since 1979.

39.

asked the Minister for Agriculture if, in view of the fact that the standard costings for land drainage and farm building grants are based on 1979 figures and are now completely out of line with the actual costings, he will update these costings immediately.

I propose to take Questions Nos. 34 to 39, inclusive, together. Because of the severe pressure on Exchequer resources it has not been possible to make any revision recently in the standard national costings used to determine the amount of grant-aid under the farm modernisation and western drainage schemes.

The matter is, however, being kept under continuous review.

Is the Minister saying that the commitment given by his party prior to the general election is now being put off sine die?

When Fianna Fáil came back into office they brought back the 5 per cent which Deputy Dukes took from the grants under the farm modernisation. scheme.

Would the Chair ask the Minister to answer the question? He has gone on to a different point.

Deputy Dukes knows very well that the Ceann Comhairle cannot direct the Minister to answer a question. I am not responsible for the content of the answer or for the fact that the Minister refuses to reply.

May I repeat my question? He ignored it. Does his reply mean that the commitment given by his party prior to the general election has been put off sine die?

The matter is being kept under continuous review.

That is not what was said in February.

Is the Minister aware that many farmers have finance available to carry out work under this scheme but are not prepared to do so because they are awaiting the updating of these costings by the Department? Is he further aware that there is grave unemployment in firms connected with the construction of farm buildings and other agriculture projects and that the updating of these costings could alleviate the unemployment problem to a certain extent?

I agree that it would be important to update the costings and the Government and the Minister have the matter under constant review. Naturally I would hope that the costings would be updated at a future date.

When will that be?

I cannot give a date.

Would the Minister agree that there is a case for an increase in the costings in view of the fact that the price of cement has increased by almost 200 per cent?

It is very important that they should be updated.

Is the Minister satisfied that the period from 1979 to date is an adequate review period? Is he aware that a considerable amount of money is being lost to farmers in EEC grant-aid especially to development farmers? Would he not agree that the time has now come to grant an updating of these costings?

Every consideration will be given to the points raised by Deputies and I hope the costings will be updated shortly.