asked the Minister for Agriculture if he will state if he has given any consideration to the question of the available supply of potatoes for consumption in the Saorstát.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Potato Supplies in the Saorstát.
The answer is in the affirmative. Close attention has been given to the condition and prospects of this season's potato crop since the beginning of June, when blight made its appearance and spread rapidly throughout the country and when the weather conditions generally seemed to threaten the crop. Warnings were conveyed to the farmers through every available channel that the crop was liable to fail unless early and thorough spraying was carried out. This propaganda was successful inasmuch as spraying was done more thoroughly than ever before, but unfortunately a certain number of growers took no notice of the Department's warnings, with the result that their crops were partially destroyed by blight. Except on very wet land wherever growers paid heed to the Department's warnings, crops have turned out better than was expected. As the crop is only now being raised, it is not possible to give a reliable estimate of the total yield. It is, however, known that yields are very variable. Reports indicate that many growers have average crops, while others, mostly small growers on wet land, have a serious shortage. In the areas in which potatoes are grown mainly for sale, it is anticipated that the crop will be fully 75 per cent. of the average. On the whole, while there may be local shortages, there seems from the information at present at the Department's disposal no reason to fear that the produce of the potato crop will be insufficient to meet requirements for household consumption and seed purposes, especially as, owing to the high prices prevailing, much greater care is likely to be taken of the crop and less of the produce fed to live stock. In districts where there is a shortage of potatoes, pig and poultry-keepers are likely to utilise other feeding stuffs in substitution for potatoes. For this purpose wheat offals and the principal cereals available are quite suitable. These foodstuffs are procurable this season at relatively low prices.