asked the Minister for Agriculture whether any steps can be taken by way of freight subsidy or otherwise to reduce the cost of homegrown barley to the farmers of North Monaghan, whose costs of production are seriously increased by the obligation to use barley derived from sources as far away from them as County Cork.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Home-Grown Barley: Cost to North Monaghan Farmers.
26.
Under the arrangements made for the marketing of home-grown barley of the 1959 crop I am satisfied that the millers and compounders catering for the feeders in North Monaghan made every effort to secure their requirements of feeding barley from the nearest and cheapest source. As evidence of this there is the fact that the prices of pig foods in North Monaghan are in line with the prices for similar feeding stuffs throughout the country. In the circumstances it is not proposed to introduce special facilities for that area as suggested.
Has the Minister received representation from these areas that the burden of extra costs in respect of foodstuffs for pigs constitutes a difficulty for small producers in these areas?
It is, as I am sure the Deputy is aware, quite a usual thing for the Minister to receive representations in all kinds of matters, but whether I have received representations in this case or not I cannot say. I have to be guided by the facts as I see them. The facts as I see them in regard to Monaghan are these. The wholesale price delivered of pig meals of different kinds is, in fact, more favourable than in many other parts of the country and as favourable as the best.
Am I to take it that the Minister is referring to compound meals?
Both compound and straight.
Is it not a fact that the cost of straight barley meal in that area is relatively high?
Not according to my information. The figures are as follows. Barley meal, Monaghan, £26 10s. delivered wholesale; Dublin, £26 ex-mill; Cork, £26 ex-mill; Waterford, £26 ex-mill.
Would the Minister not agree it is remarkable that flake barley meal is selling at the same price in Cork, where it is grown, as it is selling in North Monaghan whither it has to be drawn from Cork in many cases?
I would not be inclined to agree with that entirely. There are very keen business people in the Northern part of the country. They have not to go South for all their requirements. As a result of the scheme designed for the disposal of the barley crop last year, I believe they were enabled to put themselves in a position to compete on more favourable terms. I am delighted these people have shown they are capable of doing so.
Would the Minister consider making any effort to include the people of Monaghan to carry out Deputy Dillon's suggestion and grow the barley themselves?
Maybe they are trying that.
They are. But they are small farmers in Monaghan.
We all know how the cut of 8/- per barrel was got.