asked the Minister for Lands and Fisheries if he can state what progress has been made this year towards the reorganisation of the Donegal Homespun Industry; and, in particular, whether it has been decided to supply a stamp, to furnish carding and breaking machines, and facilities for dyeing the wool.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Donegal Homespun Industry.
Considerable progress has been made in the production of new patterns and weights of cloth to meet the taste and requirements of present day markets and these have met with encouraging success in the limited circle of buyers to whom they have been offered experimentally. It is proposed that there should be an official mark of quality and character to be applied under adequate safeguards to future materials produced and satisfying the conditions for the mark. It is not proposed that the Government should furnish carding and breaking machines and dyeing plants in the various districts, but applications for assistance by undertakings or persons proposing to undertake this work locally would be considered. It is proposed, however, to give instruction in home dyeing and to facilitate the procuring of suitable dyes and to afford facilities for the mill dyeing or carding of wool where desired as soon as the new clip of wool is available.
I may point out to the Parliamentary Secretary that almost two years ago an inspector was appointed to go to Donegal to develop the cottage hand-spun industry. That inspector has been devoting all his activities to the home-spun industry, and nothing has been done as far as the cottage hand-spun industries are concerned. Is the Parliamentary Secretary aware of that? It is all right to say that you are preparing patterns, but up to the present, although the Government made a promise five years ago, only about ten people have got any employment at the actual hand-spun industry.
The inspector to whom the Deputy referred is also engaged in an effort to revive the cottage industries as well as the home-spun industry, and considerable progress has been made, particularly during recent months.
Is the Parliamentary Secretary aware that the inspector visited Ardara district before Christmas, and that he gave a promise that a stamp and carding and breaking machines and dyeing baths would be sent there; and that an official of the Department was also in that district, and also said that the machinery was being sent, and it has not been sent?
I am quite satisfied that the inspector gave no such undertaking, but that he said the matter was under consideration.
My information is that the inspector made a definite statement before Christmas that the machinery was being sent.
asked the Minister for Lands and Fisheries whether he will state what improvements have been made in the Donegal hand-spun industry by the inspector appointed for that purpose.
An instructor trained in the Technical School at Galashiels was stationed at Ardara in November last, and has been engaged in the instruction of the weavers and in the production of new patterns of cloth in colours, designs and weights suited to the presentday taste and requirements.
In order to avoid delay in the latter operations, suitable mill-spun yarns in the finished state were employed, and as soon as the new clip of local wool is available the more satisfactory and saleable of the new patterns will be reproduced, so far as practicable, from dyeings of the local wool.
In order to provide employment for the available weavers while these steps are in hand, orders have been accepted for a limited quantity of cloth to be woven from available yarns, and arrangements are being made for facilities for the dyeing and carding of the new clip of wool so that production may be resumed in the old or new patterns.
Is the Parliamentary Secretary aware that a large number of orders are coming to the Industrial Committee which was set up to develop the home-spun side of the industry, and that owing to the "dilly-dallying" methods of the Department people are not able to execute the orders; the stamp has not been sent to them, and it is impossible to revive the industry without the stamp?
Every order received by the Gaeltacht Committee is being attended to and executed.
Is that the home-spun or hand-spun?
Both.
Did the Minister answer that part of my question in which I asked whether, in fact, the stamp has been provided?
I stated in reply that it is proposed that there should be an official mark of the quality and character of the stuff so as to provide an adequate safeguard to future materials produced and satisfying the conditions for the mark.