asked the Minister for Agriculture if he will state what steps have been or are being taken to have heat installed in all tomato glasshouses in the Gaeltacht.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Gaeltacht Glasshouses.
Mr. Walsh
It is the intention to offer heating on a part repayment basis to growers in the Donegal unit of the Gaeltacht glasshouse scheme but, due to unforeseen difficulties, it has not been found possible to do so in time for the coming season.
As I told the Deputy in reply to a question on 12th February, 1953, experiments were carried out with two turf-fuelled boilers of German make.
In 1953 a similar experiment was made with an Irish turf-fulled boiler.
At present I am endeavouring to have installations undertaken by the technical staff of the Office of Public Works for growers who are prepared to accept the repayment terms.
The possibility of heating the houses by electricity is also being considered, but this would depend on the completion of the Glady River electricity scheme.