asked the Minister for Agriculture whether he is aware that a high proportion of wheat is being rejected by millers as being unsuitable for milling; and if, therefore, he will fix a minimum price for such wheat and have it purchased by Grain Importers, Limited, on the basis of its value for animal feeding.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Rejection of Wheat.
Having regard to the wide variation in the quality of wheat rejected as being unsuitable for milling into flour for human consumption, it would not be practicable to fix a minimum price for such wheat. A proportion of unmillable wheat has already been purchased by millers and others, and every effort is being made to ensure that drying facilities will be made available to farmers to have such wheat dried without delay in order that it may be conditioned for animal feeding. In the circumstances, I do not propose to arrange for the purchase of unmillable wheat by Grain Importers, Limited, or other central purchasing organisation.
Is the Minister aware that in many areas percentage rejections have now reached the staggering figure of 33? per cent. and with each day that passes that figure is likely to show a steep increase? Must this enormous amount of grain be allowed to become a total loss? Has the Minister caused to be made a survey of the total drying facilities available and has he kept a check on how available facilities are being used?——
Would the Deputy allow me to answer those few supplementaries before he goes on to any more?
Yes.
Yes, I have kept a very careful check on grain drying facilities and on how they are being used and I did inform the House last week that I hoped to be able to justify the claim that we could now secure that any unmillable wheat returned to a farmer damp could be dried on commission for that farmer within 48 hours, no matter what part of the country he was in and that, if any farmer failed to secure that accommodation at a convenient distance from his own home, I would be obliged if he would get in touch with me so that I might put him in contact with such facilities.
Is the Minister further aware that here in counties adjacent to Dublin, Meath and Kildare, chaos exists while there are still thousands of acres due to come in and add further to the confusion, and while that situation exists, that a drying plant owned by the Merchants Warehousing Company, Sheriff Street, consisting of two large Simon dryers, was partially shut last week and fully shut down over the week-end and the early days of this week, due to lack of milling wheat? Would the Minister see to it now that a plant which has a capacity of 2,500 barrels per day and many other plants in a like position are used to salvage valuable animal feeding-stuff which, in many instances, has or may become a total loss?
I can assure the Deputy that I have an accurate and up-to-date survey of conditions in regard to the wheat crop in Kildare and Meath and in every other one of the Twenty-Six Counties of Ireland. I can assure the Deputy that my directions to the millers and seed handlers and grain handlers are that every dryer is to be kept in operation for 24 hours a day, if that be necessary. Can I do more than say to Deputies and to individual farmers all over the country that if they fail to get drying facilities for their unmillable wheat within 48 hours of requiring them to get in touch with me and I will get their wheat dried for them? If the Deputy knows of any case, would he not pick up the telephone and call me or send me a halfpenny postcard and I will have it dealt with instantly, but there is no use in asking me do I know this or do I know that across the floor of the House. I want to help any farmer who is in difficulty but I cannot help him until I know where he is and who he is. If the Deputy will give me the name of any such farmer the entire resources of the Department of Agriculture will be put at his disposal.