asked the Minister for Agriculture if he is aware that as much as £2 per cart load is being charged for farmyard manure, and that such a price is excessive, not only for plot-holders but for farmers; and if he will control the price of farmyard manure so that it will be possible to buy it at an economic price, particularly as manure is so necessary in the production of food.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Price of Farmyard Manure.
Mr. Cosgrave
I am not aware that the price of farmyard manure is as high as the Deputy suggests. The prices charged for supplies to allotments let to unemployed persons in Dublin and elsewhere are in all cases much less than that mentioned. I do not propose to control the price of farmyard manure, which is so variable in quality and in straw and water content that it would be impossible to fix a standard to which a control price would apply.
Is the Minister aware that the Dublin Corporation are reputed to be paying £2 a load, or have paid it in certain cases, with the result that the ordinary dairymen are inclined to put up the prices, and that farmers who formerly received manure merely for the cost of drawing it have now to pay a successive increase in price of from 5/- to 10/- a load, amounting to as much as £2 in certain cases?
Of course, the load is variable.
Quite. I understand that.
My information is that the highest amount is £1 per ton, but that in one case it was 25/- because there was a difficulty in transport.
If the Minister should find that there is any justification in what I have said, will he look into the matter?
Yes, certainly.