asked the Minister for Lands whether he will provide a guaranteed price of £6 per ton for kelp this season, with the intention of treating losses on the disposal of the manufactured iodine as relief work expenditure.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Guaranteed Price for Kelp.
Iodine has not at any time been manufactured by the Department. The Department's operations in kelp are carried on at a substantial loss, but it was deemed advisable to continue the business mainly because the industry was providing a partial means of livelihood for a very poor section of the community and in the hope that the industry could be maintained until the market and the world price of iodine improved. It is not considered practicable to adopt the suggestion contained in the latter part of the Deputy's question.
Is the Minister in a position to give us any indication of what price it is proposed to pay for kelp in the coming season?
That is a separate question.