asked the Minister for Agriculture whether he will state if anything is going to be done by the Government in the immediate future to relieve the situation in Cooley, County Louth, created by the fact that the farmers can only get about five shillings per ton for a small proportion of their surplus potatoes for export to England.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Surplus Cooley Potatoes.
In order to alleviate the present situation in Cooley and obviate the recurrence of such a position, it has been arranged, as the Deputy is aware, for 400 additional acres of sugar beet to be grown this season in the area in question, and I understand that contracts for that additional area of sugar beet have been duly entered into. The local farmers' associations have already been informed that their proposal for compensation for unsold potato stocks cannot be entertained. The growers in the Cooley district knew before they planted their 1929 crop that the sale of their produce was limited to export.
The Minister is not going to take any steps to deal with the situation created by the fact that about 10,000 tons are lying there and cannot be exported? They will rot if some steps are not taken to deal with the situation. Will the Minister do nothing? The sugar beet scheme is all right for next year, and it will do something.
Mr. Hogan
What can de done with the potatoes there?
I am asking the Minister. I made certain suggestions to him before as to what he could do with them.
Mr. Hogan
It is difficult to know what to do with them.
You are not going to try anything?
Mr. Hogan
I have been trying.