asked the Minister for Supplies if he will state whether an inspector of his Department conducted an inquiry during the month of March into the supply of flour and other cereals, potatoes, etc., available for human consumption in the area of Bangor Erris; whether a report on the inquiry was presented to him; and, if so, whether he will state the nature of such report and of the recommendations accompanying it.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Supply of Foodstuffs in Bangor Erris.
asked the Minister for Supplies if he is aware of the acute shortage of flour, oatmeal and potatoes in the area of Bangor Erris; whether he is aware that owing to the shortage of foodstuffs in the district the people have actually consumed the seed potatoes and oats which they would normally use for the 1942/43 crop and that they are unable to obtain from the traders the seed they require for planting the land tilled this year; whether he is further aware that in other parts of Connacht potatoes have been taken home unsold from local markets because the growers are unable to obtain buyers at any price for their surplus stocks and, whether, in these circumstances, he is prepared to buy up now, at reasonable prices, the surplus potatoes on offer in the market towns of Galway, Sligo, etc., for distribution in Bangor Erris and in other districts similarly situated; and, if so, whether an announcement of his intentions in the matter will be made in the near future.
I will answer questions Nos. 6 and 7 together. The inspection carried out by an officer of my Department in the Bangor Erris area related only to flour supplies. His inquiries indicated that the circumstances in that area warranted the issue of a larger personal allowance of flour than is available for the public generally. The shortage of flour in that area was also accentuated by the failure of certain travelling shops to deliver supplies to their former customers. An adjustment was, accordingly, made in the quotas delivered to the local shopkeeper which should ease the situation to a considerable extent. Further investigations are being made in the area.
I am aware that there is a shortage of oatmeal in the country, generally, due to the difficulties of the millers in obtaining normal supplies of oats. I am not aware that the growers of potatoes and oats in Bangor Erris are unable to obtain supplies of seeds for these crops. Any instances of this nature should, however, be reported to the Minister for Agriculture.
As regards supplies of potatoes for Bangor Erris and other districts similarly situated, I am not aware that any efforts made by the local traders to secure some of the surplus stocks on offer have not been successful. My Department has, in fact, been informed that recently a trader brought a lorry-load of potatoes to Bangor Erris but could dispose of only 1 cwt. In view of the fact, therefore, that there is an abundant supply of potatoes, there does not appear to be any grounds for interfering at this stage with the normal channels of trade for the purchase and distribution of this food-stuff. The necessity for maintaining supplies of potatoes to isolated areas, particularly in view of the present transport difficulties, has, however, been engaging the attention of my Department in consultation with the Department of Agriculture and the Department of Local Government and Public Health.
Is the Minister not aware that, in this area, not only is there no flour, oatmeal, or potatoes, but, in fact, that the people have used up the seed oats and seed potatoes which they had retained for this year's crops? Is he aware that the position will be seriously aggravated by reason of the fact that, last year, there was a seed scheme for the poorer areas in the congested districts under which small holders were provided with seed potatoes and seed oats at half the market price, that that scheme has not been continued, and will he take steps to secure, by continuance of that scheme, that these people will be given seed oats and seed potatoes to enable them to crop their lands this year?
That question should be addressed to the Minister for Agriculture, as the Deputy well knows.
Are Government arrangements so water-tight that, to relieve the plight of people on the Atlantic seaboard, the Minister for Supplies would not dream of mentioning to the Minister for Agriculture that an arrangement of this kind would, probably, be the best way of getting over the shortage of supplies?
Are the Deputy's energies so limited that he could not put down a question to the proper Minister?
Your energies have cost the people a hell of a lot so far.