asked the Minister for Agriculture if he is aware that there is a huge surplus of home grown onions in the Counties of Cork and Kerry; that growers are unable to dispose of their crop even at very low prices; that a big bulk of those onions will be deteriorating very soon; and, if so, if he will take immediate steps to endeavour to find an export market for this surplus still left on the hands of the growers.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Export of Onions.
Considerable quantities of onions still remain in the Castlegregory area of County Kerry, but practically the entire crop has been absorbed in most other areas including West Cork.
My information is that, generally speaking, the Castlegregory crop has been safely stored and that the crop has kept remarkably well, the proportion of diseased bulbs being relatively small. Owing to available local supplies in the neighbourhood of the larger consuming centres, demand in Castlegregory and the more remote growing centres has been slow, but sales are now taking place and it is hoped that the entire crop will be duly disposed of.
As regards an export trade, I am informed that the price of imported continental onions on the United Kingdom markets is such as having regard to transport and other charges involved, would not represent a price at all attractive to our growers. I am keeping the position under frequent review.
Arising out of the Minister's reply, I am afraid I have to disagree with him with regard to the statement that most of the County Cork onions have been sold. In the area where I live numbers of cottiers have been unable to find a market for their crop, and the onions are going waste, as those people have no convenient place for storage; they have not the accommodation. After the encouragement his Department has given to growers. I think it is a pity— if my information is correct—that a big lot of continental onions should have been allowed in just before the period of control. I am afraid the position is very serious, and that the Minister should take a little more interest in the matter, so that if possible these people who have no storage accommodation would receive a price which would be remunerative.
I did not recognise any interrogatory note in the Deputy's statement.
Will the Minister say what was the average price obtainable by the Irish growers?
This year?
Yes.
I cannot say what the average price was during the whole season, but I know that at one period the price was from about £10 to £10 10s. a ton. With regard to Deputy O'Donovan's question about the import of onions, the import was controlled from 1st June. Only the normal quantity to meet consumption was allowed in from 1st June until the end of August. Since the end of August no onions have been allowed in.
Did not abnormal quantities of onions come in up to 31st August?
No. From 1st June to 1st September only a sufficient quantity to meet the normal consumption was allowed in.
The extraordinary thing is that I have been with the wholesalers in Cork, and they have still a supply of continental onions.
That is extraordinary.
They told me they never had such a supply before.
I quite admit that we will have to do something very much better for marketing next year. The difficulty —if you call it a difficulty—is that we got very much more onions grown than we anticipated.