asked the Minister for Agriculture whether he is aware of the difficulties which are experienced by poultry keepers in securing suitable feeding stuffs for poultry, and whether he intends to make arrangements to ensure that a reasonable quantity of feeding stuffs will be made available to such persons.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Feeding Stuffs for Poultry.
I am aware that those poultry keepers who do not themselves produce any considerable proportion of their requirements and consequently have to purchase poultry feeding stuffs are experiencing difficulties owing to the shortage of supplies on the market.
In present circumstances, poultry keeping can be maintained to any extent only on holdings where the owner has grown the bulk of the foods required for that purpose. Limited supplies of poultry foods are available for sale but the quantity is so small that it would not be possible to ensure that poultry keepers would receive their requirements.
Can the Minister hold out any hope that there will be any food available to poultry rearers for egg production?
I cannot add anything to what I have said.
Are poultry rearers in the suburbs of the city to infer from the Minister's reply that they might as well get out of poultry production?
They can draw their own inferences. There is only a small amount of food available.
In view of the fact that supplies of paraffin are being distributed through county committees of agriculture to station holders for chick rearing purposes, would the Minister consider a scheme for the distribution of some measure of ground oats to the recipients of that paraffin to ensure that the chicks will be kept warm and not allowed to die of starvation?
It may be presumed that the majority of these station holders have their own feeding stuffs.
If they have not, would the Minister consider a proposal on the lines suggested?
I do not know that I could do it.
But you will consider it?
Yes.