asked the Minister for Agriculture whether he is aware that there is grave dissatisfaction in the Ballyporeen area, County Tipperary, because of the increase in the price of burned lime from 1/6 to 3/6 per barrel, following the reduction of the subsidy, and whether he will make a statement in the matter.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Lime Subsidy.
I am aware that it may not be possible for farmers in certain areas to procure burned lime this season at a net price as low as that at which it could be obtained in 1949.
The maximum subsidy under this year's lime subsidy scheme for burned lime is 15/- per ton or 1/10½d. per barrel and the highest price at which a quotation will be accepted from a supplier is 60/- per ton. The rate of subsidy in County Tipperary (S.R.) last year was 3/6 per barrel or 28/- per ton, and the quotations accepted for the supply of lime ranged from 5/- to 5/6 per barrel, i.e., from £2 to £2 4s. 0d. per ton. The tenders accepted under the current scheme are at the same rates.
Burned lime at current prices is no longer an economic method of supplying lime to agricultural land and supplies of ground limestone are being made available through private enterprise all over the country. There is no such plant in South Tipperary, but Comhlucht Siúicre Éireann are in a position to supply ground limestone at 15/- per ton from their works at Buttevant. They also provide a special service for delivering the product and spreading it on the land. The total cost of the material, including transport charges and spreading costs, is 30/- per ton for distances up to 50 miles from the factory and it should, therefore, be possible for farmers in the Ballyporeen area to obtain ground limestone at this price. In addition to this, under the land rehabilitation project, any farmer in South Tipperary whose land requires rehabilitation can have lime and phosphate spread on the land dealt with under the project.