asked the Minister for Agriculture if he will state with reference to the farm improvement scheme (a) the number of applications received for grants from each province; (b) the number of applications sanctioned and the aggregate value of the grants involved for each province; (c) the amount of money allocated to farms of poor law valuations of £30 and under, £30 to £50, £50 to £100 and over £100; (d) the number of working days resulting from the scheme to casual workers; (e) the number of inspectors employed on the administration of the scheme and the cost of same.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Farm Improvement Scheme.
The number of applications for grants received from each province and the number of applications sanctioned are as follows:—
|
No. of Applications received to 19/4/41 |
No. of Applications sanctioned to 19/4/41 |
|
|
Leinster |
3,731 |
2,775 |
|
Munster |
7,134 |
5,641 |
|
Connaught |
9,491 |
8,131 |
|
Ulster |
4,312 |
3,168 |
|
24,668 |
19,715 |
The number of inspectors employed in connection with the scheme is 143, and the weekly cost of the salaries of these inspectors is £596 10s. 0d. The preparation of replies to the remaining parts of the question would entail a large volume of clerical work and as it would mean taking the staff for a period from their proper duties of dealing with applications and paying grants, I do not consider that the expenditure of the time and labour involved would be justified at present.