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Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 12 Dec 1956

Vol. 160 No. 15

Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Labadish (Donegal) Starch Factory.

andCunningham asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce whether he is aware of the cessation of operations at Labadish starch factory, County Donegal, and, if so, whether he is taking any steps to enable the immediate recommencement of work in order to facilitate farmers and to give employment to workers over the Christmas period.

I have been informed by Ceimicí Teo. that the processing of the total quantities of potatoes delivered at Labadish starch factory has almost been completed and that, in the absence of further supplies to enable the factory to keep working at full capacity, it is necessary to cease operations. It has been announced however by the company that the factory will be reopened at a later date, provided sufficient supplies of potatoes are available. I have been assured by the company that they will maintain as many as possible of the factory workers in employment over the Christmas period.

Is the Minister satisfied that the proper steps were taken in the past few months to ensure a sufficient supply to maintain production in the factory over the Christmas period? My information locally is that that is not the case and that is one of the reasons why this question is addressed to the Minister now. My information is that that was not done.

In fact, instead of encouraging supplies, supplies were discouraged from coming in during the past few weeks.

I am quite certain supplies were not discouraged. In fact, I know the company sent a representative to visit persons who had potatoes to warn them to send them in. That is the information conveyed to me. But potatoes have not arrived and the factory cannot continue in operation unless it has potatoes to process.

Might I ask the Minister whether, when talking of a representative being sent around to ask the farmers for potatoes, he would ascertain whether or not such representative called only on those people who had contracted to grow specifically for delivery to the factory? There are many more growers outside of the contractual growers, and the amount of potatoes which could be procured from them is very much greater, but the emphasis was on those who had contracted to grow rather than on potato growers generally throughout the county. The representative who was sent around did not take that into consideration and that is one of the reasons why we feel proper encouragement was not given.

I take it the Donegal farmers is as hardheaded a business man as anybody else and, if he is satisfied that the price is a good one and he knows the factory is there, I see no reason why he should wait to be coaxed into sending his potatoes to the factory. Advertisements appeared in the local papers on 17th November and again on 24th November advising farmers to send in their potatoes immediately. The second advertisement told them the last date for delivery would be 26th November though, in fact, the company took potatoes after that date. The fact remains, however, that the factory cannot operate unless it gets potatoes, and the only people who have got potatoes convenient for processing are the farmers in Donegal. If they will now send in their potatoes the factory wheels will turn again.

In view of the unsatisfactory nature of the Minister's reply I would ask your permission, Sir, to raise this matter on the Adjournment.

I shall communicate with the Deputy.

I have no responsibility in this matter at all. It is a Ceimicí Teoranta function.

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