asked the Minister for Agriculture if he will state what quantities of (a) Potato, and (b) Victory seed oats have been imported for this season; and the amounts of each variety made available for County Donegal.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Seed Imports.
The quantity of Potato oats imported from Scotland to date is 500 tons and the quantity of oats of Victory type imported is 3,355 tons. In addition 300 tons of Potato oats and 785 tons of Victory type oats are at present awaiting shipment from Scotland.
One hundred and forty-five tons of Potato oats were allocated to County Donegal under my Department's scheme for the supply of seed oats to congested districts. Three hundred and twenty tons of Victory type oats were allocated to County Donegal merchants who refused to accept them. Potato oats were not available for distribution to merchants.
Can the Minister say why his Department made arrangements for Victory oats to go to Donegal where it is not grown at all? It is a seed-producing area and the people there are interested in Potato oats. They need a change of stock and yet the Department could do no better than offer them Victory oats.
The Department have no means of giving to Donegal or any other county something they have not got.
Why did the Department send Victory oats to Donegal where it was not wanted and leave County Dublin short? Apparently, there was a mix up.
There was no mix up. All the Potato oats that we secured in England was allocated to the congested districts.
But the Victory oats went to Donegal where it was not wanted.
We allocated a certain quantity of Potato oats to Donegal and oats of the Victory type was refused by Donegal merchants.
Deputy Sheldon says they do not grow Victory oats there.
Of the consignment of oats we purchased in England, a certain quantity was of the Potato variety and this was reserved in its entirety for distribution in the congested districts. The balance of the Victory type was distributed among the merchants by the county committees of agriculture and County Donegal merchants refused to take it in districts where it was not popular. This seed was then allocated through Dublin, Kildare and other counties where such seed is popular.
Where was the Potato oats distributed?
In congested districts for which we formerly made provision.
The congested districts in Mayo did not get the supplies they require.
I have stated that the entire allocation of Potato oats was reserved for our subsidised scheme through all the congested districts.
Was not the Department aware that in Donegal the people were badly in need of new stocks and surely they might have allocated some Potato oats?
The Department was well aware of the anxiety of the farmers in Donegal, Cavan, Monaghan, Longford and other areas where Victory oats was not popular, that Potato oats would be valuable and appreciated, but the Department could not get a sufficient supply of Potato oats and, therefore, it had to do with Victory oats. There were people among whom it was distributed who would not take it.
Will the Minister consider increasing the allowance of oats, given to the committees of agriculture at half rate, to the small farmers?
The Minister cannot increase that which he has not got.