asked the Minister for Agriculture whether he is aware that there is a grave shortage of seed potatoes in County Mayo under the seed distribution scheme for congested districts; that the same varieties are being distributed in the county for the past 20 years, viz., "Kerr's Pink" and "Arran Banner", and that the farmers concerned require a change of seed; and, if so, whether he will forthwith take the necessary action to have ample supplies of suitable varieties made available.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Shortage of Seed Potatoes.
I am not aware that there is a grave shortage of seed potatoes in County Mayo. Reports received in my Department indicate that there was a very satisfactory yield of potatoes last season in all parts of the county; that there is no scarcity of seed, and that prices are reasonable. The quantities of seed potatoes distributed in the county this season under my Department's seed distribution scheme were larger than in any year for the past ten years and should be quite ample having regard to the object of the scheme, which is to provide a change of seed at reduced prices for smallholders in the congested districts.
I am not aware that there is any dissatisfaction with the varieties of seed potatoes distributed under the scheme in County Mayo. The demand from the county has consistently been for "Kerr's Pink". This variety, together with that of "Arran Banner", has given excellent results over a number of years, and there has been no local demand for other varieties of maincrop potatoes, and the county committee of agriculture of which the deputy is chairman adopted a resolution last December requesting the Department to provide as much as possible of "Kerr's Pink" seed potatoes for County Mayo in the coming season.
Is the Minister aware that the members of the County Committee of Agriculture for Mayo, at their last meeting, sent a resolution to his Department pointing out the complaints of the scarcity of seed and the need for a change of seed? Further, is the Minister prepared to accept the representations of his own supporters on that committee, and that the facts, as set out in this question, are correct?
I have already told the Deputy that the amount of seed distributed in County Mayo is greater than in any year for the last ten years. Perhaps the Deputy, or some member of the committee, would inform the Department or myself why, in this particular year, when there has been a more abundant crop of potatoes than in any year for 15 years, there should suddenly supervene this unprecedented scarcity of seed in County Mayo?
So the Minister is not prepared to accept, according to his reply, the representations of the County Committee of Agriculture for Mayo, in which it was pointed out that the people required these seeds and the change of seeds.
Any representations reaching my Department from the County Committee of Agriculture for Mayo will be very carefully considered and examined, but in the meantime, I should be glad if the Deputy, who is chairman of that body, would concern himself with the question that, while his colleagues declare that there is an unprecedented glut of potatoes in the country, he finds a unique famine in that respect in the county.
Mr. Moran rose.
Question No. 15.