asked the Minister for Agriculture if he is aware of the backwardness of tillage operations in many parts of County Meath and that this is caused by the scarcity of machinery for cultivation owing to the large increase in the tillage quota; and, if so, if he will state what machinery he has procured for the present season's operations and what prospects he now has of procuring more; and also through what channels he intends to distribute any such machinery.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Farming Machinery.
I am not prepared to accept the suggestion in the first part of the Deputy's question. No substantial quantities of agricultural machinery have recently been imported and I am not in a position to state definitely what further supplies it may be possible to obtain.
I have come to no decision yet as to the method of distribution of such agricultural machinery as may become available.
asked the Minister for Agriculture if, in view of the way small farmers are handicapped in their food production efforts through their inability to purchase adequate farming machinery, he will ensure that such supplies of agricultural machinery as may be imported during the emergency be formed into pools and hired out at reasonable rates to farmers, and that any Government plan for agriculture after the war will make provision for the establishment of co-operative schemes for the purchasing and joint use of machinery by farmers, particularly in small holding areas.
The quantity of agricultural machinery which may possibly be imported during the continuance of the emergency is too small to warrant the introduction of a comprehensive scheme, such as the Deputy has in mind. There is nothing to prevent any group of farmers from pooling their resources and acting as the Deputy suggests, but my Department cannot undertake to organise such groups or to supervise them. I would suggest that the Deputy should submit his proposal for the establishment of co-operative schemes for the purchase and joint use of machinery by farmers to the Committee of Inquiry on Post-Emergency Agricultural Policy.