asked the Minister for Agriculture if he will state whether he has yet formulated any scheme for the distribution of the available supplies of the new compound manure; and, if so, if he will outline the scheme.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Distribution of Manure Supplies.
Retail distributors of fertilisers will be able to obtain in the present season from the Irish Fertiliser Manufacturers, quantities of emergency compound fertiliser not exceeding 25 per cent. by weight of the quantities of superphosphate and compound fertiliser supplied to them by the manufacturers in the 1940-41 season. No superphosphate or compound fertilisers other than the emergency compound fertiliser will be obtainable from the manufacturers.
With the object of providing for the equitable distribution among farmers of the very limited supplies of emergency compound fertiliser, an order entitled the Emergency Powers (Distribution of Artificial Fertilisers) Order, 1942, was made on the 26th February, 1942.
Under this order a retail distributor is authorised to supply in the 1942 season to an established customer, i.e., to a person to whom he supplied superphosphate or compound fertiliser during the 1940-41 season, a quantity of emergency compound fertiliser not exceeding 25 per cent. by weight of the superphosphate and compound fertilisers which he supplied to such customer during the 1940-41 season, subject to a minimum quantity of 56 lb.
A retail distributor may not supply during the 1942 season to any new customer any emergency compound fertiliser in excess of 56 lb., unless he has obtained permission to do so. Application for such permission is required to be made to the Department of Agriculture on a prescribed form.
Will the Minister say if he has taken into account farmers who bought I.C.I. compounds last year?
I cannot answer that at the moment.