asked the Minister for Agriculture if he is aware that a large number of farmers have been unable to dispose of their barley; that this is seriously affecting their economic circumstances; and if he will state what steps, if any, he proposes to take to ensure this barley being marketed at a reasonable price.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Disposal of Barley.
Returns furnished to my Department by maize millers and registered dealers in oats and barley indicate that the stocks of barley held by them have been steadily diminishing since the end of November and that, at the present rate of consumption, stocks are only sufficient to meet the demand to the end of May next. It also appears, from the reports furnished to the Department, that farmers generally have disposed of all barley of merchantable quality. In view of the position indicated, any farmers who may still have merchantable barley on hands should have little difficulty in disposing of it in the near future at reasonable prices.
Is the Minister not aware that some of them are disposing of it at 8/- per barrel in order to get the necessaries of life? I can give the Minister the names of people in one small area in my county who have about 8,000 barrels on hands. They cannot pay their annuities, and can hardly get tea and sugar, and have no means of getting seed for next season.
Let me have the list.
Yes. Merchants have thousands of barrels of barley on hands which they cannot dispose of except at 11/- per barrel, which is the highest they can get. I have seen quotations from Cavan to Cork.
Yesterday I saw quotations for 15/6.
Mr. Morrissey
Is the Minister aware that the position is not what the reports to his Department indicate, but rather as Deputy Colonel Ryan put it? I can give the Minister the names of two merchants in my district, one of whom has 1,200 barrels which he cannot dispose of, and the other 900 barrels. Within a comparatively small radius of my own town I know of my own personal knowledge there are between 3,000 and 5,000 barrels of barley on the hands of farmers who cannot dispose of it.
Where farmers have barley on hands the Department have been making inquiries about it and are trying to get it taken off their hands. We have succeeded in a good many areas where farmers have it. I admit in this answer that merchants and millers have a lot of barley, but only sufficient to meet the demand to the end of May next. It will be all used up by the end of May at the present rate.
Mr. Morrissey
We are speaking from what we know. Will the Minister indicate to any farmer who has barley on hands how he is to dispose of it; what steps the Department are taking and through what channel?
If a list of farmers is sent to my Department we will get in touch with the maize millers and merchants who want barley and I believe we will get it taken off their hands if it is usable.
The Minister stated that he saw quotations for 15/6. Is he aware of any sales?
Yes.
I can inform the Minister that there is no such price offered.
That is a maize miller to a merchant.
The farmer is not getting anything like that.
The merchant in this case complained to me that he bought this barley at 16/6 and could only get 15/6.
Mr. Morrissey
Some merchants would be glad to get 15/- for it now.
We thought he should get more than that.