asked the Minister for Agriculture if he is aware that offals are costing an abnormally high price in the Free State for some time past; that the high prices are attributed to the fact that large quantities of offals are exported periodically; that the export price is appreciably lower than the price prevailing here, and if he will have inquiries made in the matter with a view to putting into practice the promises made by the Minister that the milling of our own flour would result in the provision of cheap offals for the farmers of the Free State.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - The Cost of Offals.
Dr. Ryan
The Deputy is under a misapprehension as to the present position with regard to offals in the Saorstát. The export of wheaten offals from Saorstát Eireann was prohibited as from the 11th of June last and, save for a relatively small quantity of red bran (not in demand here at the time) exported under licence in July, no pollards or bran have been exported since that date.
At this season of the year the demand for wheaten offals is usually keen, and in the corresponding period of other years the prices of such offals were normally somewhat higher in this country than in Great Britain. This year, however, the position would appear to be reversed, the prices of pollards and bran quoted ex mill or f.o.r. in the Saorstát being slightly lower than the Liverpool "spot" prices quoted in the trade journals.