asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if in view of the fact that it has been necessary to import raw sugar to augment home production, Comhlucht Siúicre Éireann will consider contracting for a greater acreage of beet this year than heretofore, rather than reducing contracts to individual growers with the possibility of such reductions leading to continuing imports annually of raw sugar.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Beet Growing Contracts.
2.
Comhlucht Siúicre Éireann Teo. inform me that they have received beet contract applications for an acreage in excess of the capacity of their factories during the normal refining campaign period. They have accordingly arranged to give first priority to satisfactory regular beet growers for their normal acreage and to allot the remaining acreage in accordance with a priority agreed with the Beet Growers' Association. The estimated quantity of sugar to be produced from home-grown beet in this year will exceed total home requirements.
Raw sugar is imported for refining at periods of the year when native beet is not available, for the purpose of facilitating export trade in sugar goods.
Is the Minister prepared to give a licence to the Sugar Company to import foreign raw sugar while they refuse, or will not give contracts to people who apply for them and who sowed beet in previous years?
The Deputy misunderstands the position. The Sugar Company is giving contracts for all the beet they can handle. The importation of raw sugar outside the refining campaign period has nothing to do with that.
I am very glad to hear that answer. Is it the case then that the Sugar Company cannot refine any more Irish beet? That is not the answer given by others. Will the Minister state is there a necessity for a further sugar beet factory in this country to handle our full sugar requirements?
I understand that if they could get a sufficient quantity of beet, delivered to them earlier in the year so that they could open their campaign earlier, they could handle more but they could not do that to date.
Is the Minister aware that growers who have been growing beet in North Tipperary for the past number of years have been reduced in acreage by at least 50 per cent.?
I do not think that is correct. At least, the information given to me was that growers who have been growing beet regularly for more than two years are getting contracts for the acreage they normally grew and, in other cases, who would naturally be new growers, the areas are as agreed with the Beet Growers' Association.
Is the Minister satisfied that the beet company are entitled to import raw sugar when they refuse contracts?
The point I am making is that no sugar is imported during the period of the year when native beet is available, and a decision not to import raw sugar would not increase by a ton the quantity of beet they could handle.
The Minister, in his answer, made reference to deliveries of beet at an early period. Does he think it is possible for the growers to deliver beet at an earlier period than the normal ripening period?
Some of the people who are experts on that think it is possible.
If I supply the Minister with a list of names of people who have been growing beet for the Thurles Sugar Factory for the past 10 or 12 years, will he make representations on their behalf to the company?
I suggest the Deputy would save time by sending that list to the Sugar Beet Company.
Do I take it now that the Minister has no responsibility for the Irish Sugar Company, and that it is the Irish Beet Growers' Association who are allocating the acreages in North Tipperary?
I understand that the Sugar Company and Beet Growers' Association have agreed as to the allocation of acreage.
I can supply the Minister with a list of names of farmers who have been growing beet for a long number of years and who have been refused contracts this year.