EEC funding for drainage applications
Leonard pressed the Minister to seek additional EEC funds for the backlog, citing strong uptake in Monaghan. The Minister said he needed to wait for the current allocation to be taken up, but expected time to negotiate for further aid afterward.
asked the Minister for Agriculture if he will seek additional funds from the EEC to allow the large backlog of applications under the western drainage scheme to be attended to.
Comment on this
A recent survey has shown that applications received up to 30 September, 1981 can be accommodated within the ceiling of 150,000 hectares provided for in the western drainage scheme but it may not be possible to accommodate applications received after that date. Consideration is being given to how best to deal with such applications in the light of the present economic and budgetary position.
Comment on this
Is the Minister aware that in my constituency there are 2,200 applications? These two counties have the best record of the 12 for the type of work carried out. I would agree with Deputy McCartin that they have made good use of the land in that county. The Minister indicated in reply to a previous question that the Coalition Government went to Brussels in 1981. Prior to the election in 1981, Fianna Fáil——
Comment on this
I want to know if this matter will be attended to before the end of the year.
Comment on this
For obvious reasons, as I said in my previous reply, I have to wait until the scheme is taken up. I could not proceed otherwise to look for further aid. I have the matter under review. I sympathise with the problem in County Monaghan because it has been one of the better counties of uptake and because of that and because of the amount of land that has to be drained we could not have the entire programme concentrated in County Monaghan. The other counties must get attention as well. I would like to see some drainage done in Galway as well.
Comment on this
If the Minister waits until it is all taken up it will take too long. Can the Minister not indicate to the EEC now that there would be sufficient applications for the money that will be available? Can he not ask for further allocations on that basis?
Comment on this
As the Deputy is aware, there is a long time from the date of approval until the grant is taken up. Therefore there will be sufficient time after the end of the year to negotiate for any extra allocations we want.