asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if he will state (i) the estimated production of industrial alcohol during the 1948-49 season; (ii) the estimated production at each factory; (iii) the estimated quantity of potatoes to be purchased; and (iv) the quantity already purchased and the price paid.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Industrial Alcohol.
(i) As far as can be estimated by Ceimicí Teoranta at present, the production of industrial alcohol during the year commencing 1st October, 1948, will be approximately 1,200,000 gallons.
(ii) It is estimated that each of the five factories will supply approximately 20 per cent. of this quantity, or 240,000 gallons each.
(iii) At this stage it is not possible to estimate what quantity of potatoes will be purchased during the year.
(iv) The quantity of potatoes already purchased and delivered to the factories up to the 12th March, 1949, was 18,759 tons, and the price paid was £57,365.
asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if he will state what quantity of potatoes, if any, has been purchased from the British Ministry of Food by Ceimicí Teo. for the manufacture of industrial alcohol, and the price paid.
It would be contrary to recognised practice to give information regarding the business of individual suppliers to Ceimicí Teo. and consequently I do not think I would be justified in giving the particulars asked for in the question.
Will the Minister give the farmers who normally supplied these alcohol factories with potatoes an assurance that purchases of potatoes from the British Ministry of Food will not prevent them delivering potatoes to the factories?
I can inform the Deputy and the farmers that more potatoes have already been purchased up to the moment by the alcohol factories than were purchased in any year for the past ten years and that, by the time the purchases are completed, the factories will have purchased at least double the quantity purchased in any year since the factories were established. I can also inform the Deputy that to the extent, whatever it may be, the potatoes mentioned in the question are concerned, farmers will get £10 per ton now instead of £4 per ton formerly.
Will the Minister give an assurance that farmers who normally sent potatoes to the alcohol factories will get an opportunity of supplying the factories this year and that the whole capacity will not be taken up in processing potatoes purchased from the British Ministry of Food?
I can give the Deputy the assurance that at least double the tonnage of Irish potatoes will come into the factories this year and that in respect of some portion of that tonnage, the highest price that was ever paid since the factories were established will be paid for these potatoes.
That is not answering the question, of course.