asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if he will request Bord na Móna to arrange for the purchase of large quantities of unsold privately produced turf in the Cahirciveen, Portmagee, Glenbeigh areas, County Kerry.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Hand-won Turf Supplies.
I would refer the Deputy to my replies on 6th and 26th November to similar questions regarding other areas.
If, in fact, quantities of turf remain unsold in the areas now in question at the end of the season they will be dealt with in the manner already indicated.
Is the Minister aware that these large quantities of turf will be deteriorating in value the longer they stay on the roadside and that last year they were there until the end of March. The private producers of this turf, who really are the small farmers and the workers in the area, require cash as early as possible for the turf they produce. In these circumstances will the Minister endeavour as soon as possible to see that this turf is taken off their hands?
I have replied to the Deputy's supplementary question already. If he is familiar with what has been announced in this regard he will know that the Government have undertaken to take at current market price any hand-won turf remaining unsold at the end of the winter.
Could the Minister state the current market price?
It means the price at that time.
Is the Minister aware that Messrs. Popes & Company, Cork, have offered an entirely uneconomic price for the turf on the roadside?
I think the Deputy would be most unwise to hold out the prospect to the producers that the State will buy any hand-won turf remaining unsold at prices higher than it will fetch on the market. They would be most unwise to hold their turf back in the expectation that the State will pay more for it later on.
Is that the attitude to private turf production?