asked the Minister for Agriculture whether he is aware that there is a large surplus of potatoes in Monaghan which growers are finding great difficulty in disposing of; and whether he will take steps to facilitate these growers in cashing this surplus produce.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Monaghan Potato Surplus.
I am aware that a number of farmers in Monaghan have some quantities of old potatoes on hands, but it is considered that when deliveries to the alcohol factory in Cooley have been completed, and when farmers' own needs have been fully met, the stocks remaining should not present any serious problem.
Is the Minister aware that actually there are potatoes in railway wagons on sidings in Monaghan, and that, as a result of some misunderstanding between the consignor and the alcohol factories as to the terms on which they should have been consigned, they are being left in the sun to perish? If this state of affairs continues will the Minister consider some emergency plan to reduce these potatoes to a form of pig feeding of some kind so that it may be kept over for use in the coming autumn to supplement whatever ration of pig feeding may then be available in the Monaghan area?
I am not familiar with the circumstances, but it seems strange that potatoes should be lying in the railway station at Monaghan, due to some misunderstanding. I say that because, as far as I can recollect, the terms upon which potatoes would be accepted in Cooley were advertised and circulated.
I do not want to press the Minister because I understand his difficulty—that he is not familiar with the circumstances of this case. All I ask is that he would take an early opportunity of suggesting to the Minister for Agriculture that, if potatoes are, in fact, lying on farmers' and assemblers' hands in Monaghan, he would consider some local scheme whereby these potatoes might be reduced to silage, in accordance with the Department's recommended scheme, to be used later on for pig feeding a comestible which, I think, will become very scarce before the end of next year.
As far as I can see the Minister for Agriculture did his duty when he arranged with the alcohol factories to take all the potatoes on offer from the County Monaghan and the County Cavan farmers at a certain price.
And County Louth.
And North Louth. When that was done it was up to the farmers, who had potatoes, to arrange with the alcohol factories on the basis of the terms and price as published. Now, if something has happened the Minister for Agriculture cannot be held to blame about it. If the farmers in these districts do not want to sell their potatoes to Cooley on those terms, they can reduce them to silage themselves.
I am not blaming anybody. I am simply telling the responsible Minister that there are potatoes going to loss on railway sidings in the County Monaghan. I think it is up to the Minister to take some energetic measures to cut the Gordian knot so as to prevent the potatoes going to loss. I invite the Minister to look into the matter. It is possible that some very simple remedy will dispose of the whole difficulty.