asked the Minister for Finance if he is aware that the increased price of sugar accruing from the produce of 70,000 acres, calculated on the basis of an average of nine tons per acre with a sugar content of 15½ per cent., will realise a very large sum; and, if so, if he will consider the demands made by the beet growers' representatives to participate in the share of this sum by a reduction of the sugar content to 15½ per cent., as the figure of 17½ per cent. is unattainable, having regard to the facts that there is no likelihood of the sugar content reaching this standard owing to the shortage of fertilisers and the inroads already made on soil fertility by the intensive cultivation of recent years.
Ceisteanna.—Questions. Oral Answers. - Beet Prices.
I must refer the Deputy to the statement made by me on the 16th ultimo, arising out of a Parliamentary question by Deputy Corry, that I cannot answer questions regarding the relations between Cómhlucht Siúicre Éireann and the Beet Growers' Association and the contracts entered into between the company and the growers, and that such matters are proper for discussion with the company and not with the Minister for Finance.
I also made it clear on the same occasion that the recent increase in the price of sugar to the consumer was rendered necessary by the previous increase in the price paid to the growers for sugar beet and that any such change in the terms offered to the growers as is proposed in the Deputy's question would greatly worsen the financial position of the company. I may add that, from the information at my disposal, it is incorrect to suggest that the standard sugar content of 17½ per cent. which has been fixed for 1944 is illusory.
Is the Minister aware that last year very few farmers secured payment for their beet on the basis of a 17½ per cent. sugar content, and that, therefore, the idea of farmers getting £4 per ton for beet is ridiculous and a farce? Is the Minister further aware that the 1d. per lb. placed on sugar to meet the increased price of 10/- per ton paid for beet benefited the sugar company to the extent of £911,400, while this extra 10/- per ton for beet which farmers received only amounted to about £315,000? Is there not a balance there sufficient to allow for a decrease in the sugar content so as to enable the farmer to receive £4 per ton for his beet?