asked the Minister for Agriculture whether he is aware of the heavy losses suffered by wheat growers owing to the lack of drying facilities which has been caused by the closing by millers of certain drying plants which were available to growers in previous years, and, if so, what steps to prevent similar losses in future are contemplated by him.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Wheat Drying Facilities.
While there were some difficulties in regard to the use of individual driers for the drying of wheat, the over-all position is that more drying facilities were in use this year than in any previous year. In this connection, I would point out that purchases of wheat by the flour millers in the week ended 12th October amounted to 462,000 barrels, the highest quantity ever purchased by them in one week. Furthermore, the average weekly purchases for the four weeks ended 12th October were 430,000 barrels. While some growers have had difficulty in having their wheat taken up, it is clear that the bulk of the crop has been marketed satisfactorily. I propose, however, to look into the whole problem of the marketing and drying of wheat in the light of this year's experience.