asked the Minister for Agriculture if he will introduce some local lime subsidy scheme for County Wexford under which the old limekilns in parts of the county, such as Rathyork, Drinagh, Baldwinstown, Kerlogue, Killiane, etc., would be restarted to supply local requirements for agricultural purposes; if he is aware that most of the land of this county, both pasture and tillage, is badly in need of lime dressings, and that some such scheme would be of great benefit in keeping local labour employed during the slack season for farm work.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Lime Subsidy Scheme for Wexford.
The Vote of the Department of Agriculture does not include any provision from which grants towards the building or repair of limekilns could be made. A lime subsidy scheme under which farmers obtain lime at reduced prices has been in operation on a limited scale through committees of agriculture (including the County Wexford Committee) since 1934-35. For the current year the total grant made available for the scheme from the Vote of the Department of Agriculture has been increased from £8,000 to £30,000. It is expected that the increased demand for lime created by this scheme will have the effect of encouraging the reopening of disused kilns.
Arising out of the Minister's reply, is not the Minister aware that there is no lime burned in his own constituency at all, and yet there is a demand there for lime? We have the raw material in County Wexford—lots of limestone and disused lime kilns. I think it would help the farmers in their agricultural work if the industry were better divided.
I am aware that Wexford is not so well supplied as other counties, but the county committee did get at least one tender from a kiln within the county.
Mr. Brennan
Is the Minister or the Department satisfied with the working of any of the lime schemes in any of the counties in Ireland?
I think we are.
Mr. Brennan
I do not think you are.
Is the Minister aware that Wexford—according to the Minister for Industry and Commerce—was at one time too much of a three-cornered county in which to restart a cement factory? Surely, if that is so, it is too much of a three-cornered county to import lime from other counties?
There is no doubt about that.