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Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 6 May 1943

Vol. 89 No. 19

Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Potato Shortage.

asked the Minister for Agriculture if he can state the reason for the present serious shortage of potatoes, and if he is satisfied that adequate measures have been taken to increase the acreage for the coming season.

The present shortage of potatoes is due to a number of causes, of which the main one is the low yield of the 1942 crop. Other factors are difficulties of transport under emergency conditions, and an increasing tendency to feed potatoes to cattle. With regard to the second part of the question, I would refer the Deputy to my reply to the question asked by him on the 25th March, 1943.

Is the Minister aware that the present shortage is due to his failure to ensure that a sufficient acreage of potatoes is grown so as to leave a safe margin to cover the risk of a falling off in the yield, disease or loss? Is he also aware that in Great Britain, a country with less than three times our arable area, there is an adequate supply of potatoes for a population 15 times greater than ours? Surely, therefore, it is not unreasonable to ask the Minister why he has failed to take steps to ensure an increase in the acreage under potatoes by the payment of a direct subsidy per acre.

That question was answered on the 25th March.

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