Grants for swamp dozers and diggers
The Minister said the Turf Development Act limits grants to machinery principally used to extract turf for fuel, excluding swamp dozers and diggers and related EC or Bord na Móna assistance. Mr. Kitt argued the machines are vital for bog levelling and drainage; the Minister invited him to submit a specific case, and Kitt began to provide a name.
asked the Minister for Energy if his Department will provide grant aid for swamp dozers and swamp diggers in private bog development schemes.
Comment on this
Each application for grant aid under the private bog development scheme is considered by Bord na Móna in accordance with the terms of the Turf Development Act, 1981.
Section 8(1) of the Act, which is concerned with the provision of grants towards the cost of turf extraction machinery, stipulates that such grants will only be paid in respect of machinery "designed or intended by its manufacturer to be used exclusively or principally for the extraction of turf for fuel". As swamp dozers and diggers do not come under this category, I regret that grant aid from my Department cannot be considered for them.
Comment on this
Have the Department, through Bord na Móna, a scheme for the type of machinery mentioned? Is there any assistance from the EC for grant aiding this type of machinery? Is there any energy directive under which this could be grant aided?
Comment on this
It would appear not. I am informed that a swamp dozer is a machine which levels swamp land and a swamp digger is employed in the construction of outfalls. Because of the fact that neither machine is either exclusively or principally for the extraction of turf for fuel or similar energy related projects, there would not be any assistance from either the EC or Bord na Móna.
Comment on this
Does the Minister realise that in the private bog development scheme a lot of levelling and drainage work has to be done? These dozers and diggers are of vital importance in doing this work. If the Minister checks with Bord na Móna he will find that there are many applications for grant aid for this type of work. Does the Minister realise that many groups have to get contractors to do this work and contractors are very anxious to know if grant aid could be given?
Comment on this
Section 8(1) of the Turf Development Act, 1981, states that grants will only be paid in respect of machinery "designed or intended by its manufacturer to be used exclusively or principally for the extraction of turf for fuel". The Act is quite specific and I assume Bord na Móna are quite rigid in their interpretation. If the Deputy has a particular case he wishes to bring to my attention, he is free to do so.