asked the Minister for Agriculture if he is aware that in certain districts in West Cork (including the islands) there has been an almost complete failure of the potato crop; and whether he is prepared to consider proposals for the provision, in such circumstances, of seed potatoes to labourers and small farmers.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Provision of Seed Potatoes.
I am aware that in some of the islands off the coast and in other small areas in County Cork the yield of the potato crop this year has been seriously below the average. The position generally throughout the county does not, however, afford grounds for anticipating that there will be any pronounced shortage of potatoes for planting next spring, especially in view of the fact that farmers are alive to the situation and are using less potatoes for feeding to pigs and poultry. The position does not, therefore, appear to be such as to warrant a general Governmental scheme for the distribution of seed potatoes to farmers or labourers in the county.
asked the Minister for Agriculture if he is taking any steps to meet the situation at present existing in the County Mayo, occasioned by the almost total failure of the potato crop during this year 1931; if he proposes to take any action to supply fresh seed potatoes either by loan or otherwise to the farmers in County Mayo during the coming spring, or if he will make representations to the present authorities responsible for local government in Mayo to take action in the matter.
Mr. Hogan
From the information at my disposal it would appear that there has been no general failure of the potato crop in County Mayo, but that, on the contrary, save in a comparatively small area, there has been a very fair crop. The situation is not such as would warrant the introduction of a special scheme for the provision of seed potatoes for farmers in the county generally.
Is the Minister aware that the County Commissioner has taken steps within the last few days to provide seed in places where the potato crop has failed? Is it not ridiculous, therefore, for the Minister to state that there is no shortage?
Mr. Hogan
The question is asked about County Mayo, and suggests that there is a general failure in that county. There is no such general failure. My information is that the crop is fair. There may be failure in special districts in Mayo, but that does not mean that there is a general failure in the county.
Would it not be better if the Minister's Department took over the distribution of the seed? Why not use the machinery of the Department where necessary and not put the additional cost on the ratepayers of the county, if it has to be done in the way it has been done in the past?
Mr. Hogan
It is a question of putting the additional cost on the ratepayers or the taxpayers.
The Minister has machinery already at his disposal which he could use without additional cost.
Mr. Hogan
The local authorities also have machinery at their disposal.
They have not. They have to create the machinery. That has been my experience in the past.
Mr. Hogan
They use the existing officials.
No, they do not, because the existing officials are not adequate.
Mr. Hogan
Well they ought to.
They have to employ a special staff.
Is the Minister aware that the potato crop all over the country is a complete failure, and will he take steps to procure seed for the farmers?
Mr. Hogan
The potato crop all over the country is not a complete failure.
It is a failure in my district.
Mr. Hogan
Not in any county is it a complete failure. There is a smallish crop, but the quality is fairly good.
Will he say that 75 per cent. is not a failure?
Mr. Hogan
Nothing like it.
Will the Minister say what he means by general failure? To my knowledge there is a large failure of the potato crop, and I would like to know what the Minister means by no general failure.
Will the Minister say, from his information, that there is only 50 per cent. crop?
Mr. Hogan
I do not want to go into percentages. Does the Deputy mean a 50 per cent. crop as compared with last year?
Take the Co. Cavan. The Minister's inspectors came down to Cavan and reported that there was at least a 50 per cent. failure.
Mr. Hogan
I got no such report. I have seen the reports from officials of the Department in the country, and I am speaking with knowledge which I have got as the result of reports when I say that there is no general failure of the potato crop this year. There is nothing like a 50 per cent. shortage. I do not care to say what shortage there is, because statistics are illusory. There is some shortage, but the quality is fairly good, generally speaking. Of course, the quality varies from county to county. The Deputy asked what distinction I draw between general failure and failure in special areas. There are areas—I do not say that that exhausts the possibility—along the banks of rivers which are habitually flooded, or there may be a particular area that in a wet year would be subject to flooding. There might be a general failure in some small district in such a case due to flooding or something like that, but speaking of the counties and of the country generally, there is no general failure.
Would the Minister state that the potato crop is not 50 per cent. in quality and bulk compared with the normal year in the country generally?
Mr. Hogan
Far and away more than 50 per cent. Fifty per cent. is absolutely absurd.
Will the Minister answer the question as to what objection he has to using the machinery of his Department in the distribution of seed?
Mr. Hogan
I have an objection to duplicating the work. If there is a local scheme why not leave it to the local people to do it. I am against the tendency of throwing everything upon the State.
The local people will have to incur special expenses. It will mean additional cost. That is the reason.
Mr. Hogan
I do not agree.