asked the Minister for Agriculture if he will agree to provide the necessary money to carry out drainage in areas which cannot be serviced by the arterial drainage schemes; and if he will consider providing grant-aid for individual farmers or groups of farmers who wish to engage in this development.

Under the field drainage element of the western drainage scheme there is provision for aid to individual farmers or groups for work on small rivers or streams. The acceptance of applications under the western drainage scheme is at present suspended, however, since the number received to date is more than can be catered for within the 150,000 hectare limit set by the EC.

Would the Minister accept that these schemes are of tremendous importance to farmers, in order that they avail of grants for ordinary drainage? Because proper outlets do not exist for drainage it is important that these schemes go ahead. Can the Minister indicate when it will be possible to go ahead with these?

This is tied up with the answer to the last group of questions. I agree with the Deputy that this kind of thing for groups of farmers who need access to main drainage is very important. I am currently looking at that in the light of the proposals I mentioned a few moments ago.

Is it not abundantly clear now to the Minister and to the Government — with the number of farmers willing to participate in these types of programmes — that it is time we had a new scheme formulated? Might I impress on him the urgency of announcing a continuation of this scheme or an increase in its activities?

You are on the record, Deputy.

The Minister has not answered this question and it is the one that every farmer wants to know about, including those in Cavan and Monaghan.

I have already referred to that.

The Minister has not. He talked vaguely about an announcement and that is all we are hearing. It is now three years since any announcement was made about this.