asked the Minister for Agriculture if, in view of the economic failure of unheated tomato glass-houses erected in the Gaeltacht areas of Donegal and Connemara, he will ensure that the tomato glass-houses now proposed for erection in Cahirciveen district, County Kerry, will have heating apparatus installed at the time of erection.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Cahirciveen Tomato Scheme.
I do not accept the Deputy's suggestion that the unheated glass-houses in Connemara and Donegal are an economic failure. As regards the question of installing heating equipment in the glass-houses proposed to be erected in the Cahirciveen district, I wouldrefer the Deputy to my reply to Deputy Dillon's question on the subject on the 21st May.
The Minister states that the unheated glass-houses in Donegal are not uneconomic. Why then is he now experimenting in introducing heating apparatus in some of these glass-houses?
Mr. Walsh
I think the Deputy is labouring under a misapprehension. If you will permit me to give him an example, Sir—in 1948 the highest net earnings in Donegal were £161 per house. In Connemara, it was £168. In 1952, the highest net earnings in Connemara were £179 but in 1950 the highest net earnings were only £90 6s. in Connemara and £71 in Donegal, the reason being that the protection afforded to the tomato growers was removed by Deputy Palmer's colleague, Deputy Dillon.
Will not the Minister admit that when tomatoes are produced in unheated glass-houses, they are not fit for sale until August or September, when the price is low, Would it not be more economic, therefore, to introduce heating apparatus now in the glass-houses to be built in Kerry so that the tomatoes may be ready in the month of June, when the price is high?
The temperature is also high in Kerry in that month.
You do not know anything about it.
It would be very high in the country if the Minister went down at the present time.