asked the Minister for Agriculture whether he is aware that people in certain parts of West Cork have had to abandon pig rearing owing to the high cost of feeding stuffs, and if he will consider the advisability of modifying the regulations governing the admixture scheme so as to facilitate the people concerned as they are unable to grow cereals on their own holdings.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Pig Rearing in West Cork.
Dr. Ryan
The information at my disposal would not support the suggestion that pig rearing is being abandoned by farmers in West Cork. It is not administratively possible to discriminate between one district and another in the prescribed requirements as to the composition of the maize meal mixture but in determining the composition of that mixture due regard must be had to the interests of feeders in general.
I am surprised to hear that the Minister has no official information that pig-rearing has practically disappeared from that area of West Cork. These people who were dependent on pig-rearing and the raising of cattle to meet their demands have had to go out of production, as it were, owing to the high cost of the admixture. They can grow neither oats nor barley. They have to pay heavy freights on the feeding stuffs brought into the area. In view of the representations that have been made to me, would the Minister have further inquiries made into the matter to see if anything can be done to relieve those people?
Dr. Ryan
In answer to the Deputy's supplementary question, I may say that the number of premium boars has increased steadily since 1933. In 1937 there was a big increase of 136 in the number of such boars.
But the number of pigs reared has decreased abnormally in that area.