asked the Minister for Agriculture whether, in view of his statement regarding the desirability of making limestone fertilisers available to farmers, he will consider establishing a limestone crushing plant at Lecarrow, County Roscommon, having regard to the fact that there is an excellent limestone quarry there, and that first-class railway facilities are available for delivery to all parts of the West of Ireland and the Midlands.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - County Roscommon Limestone Quarry.
My hope is that commercial firms will undertake the production of ground limestone on a substantial scale at a reasonable price as a matter of private enterprise.
A considerable number of private undertakings are preparing to initiate grinding operations in various parts of the country, one at least of which should be in operation in County Kilkenny before the end of June. My Department will be glad to consult with and advise as to probable local requirements and demand, any person desirous of promoting this industry.
Will the Minister state whether he is prepared to make a loan or a grant available to a private producer to enable him to purchase limestone crushing machinery for the promotion of this industry?
Inasmuch as this will, I believe, develop into a valuable industrial occupation, I suggest to the Deputy that he should get in touch with my colleague the Minister for Industry and Commerce either through him or through me to discuss generally any facilities that might reasonably be made available to promote this most desirable industry.
Am I to understand that the project of a ground limestone industry on a large scale through a State company, and the sale of ground limestone through subsidised prices, has been dropped?
Nothing has been dropped, but it has been determined that every possibility of grinding limestone at the lowest possible price at the earliest possible date will be pursued and pressed home. All available present methods, plus any other method that appears to me to hold out a prospect of success, will be employed to the utmost of our capacity.
Is it not a fact, however, that the advice given to the Department of Agriculture is that the lowest price at which ground limestone can be produced, without subsidy, would be too high to ensure its use to the extent that the Department of Agriculture consider necessary?
Of that I am not able to speak, but it would not astonish me to hear of any daft advice that my Department may have received from other Departments in the past as then administered. Since this Government has come into office, I am happy to inform the Deputy that the costings envisaged as possible are now a matter of daily ridicule in my Department.
Will the Minister state at what price he contemplates ground limestone can be sold without subsidy?
I hope to see it at a price between 12/- and 16/- a ton, likely at 15/-, possibly at 14/- and in the Utopian hope of 12/-, and then I believe in Utopia.
Will the Minister say if that is the price at the mill or when spread on the land?
At the pit.
That is the least cost. The cost of delivery and spreading is the big cost.
To-morrow is another day.