asked the Minister for Agriculture what action is being taken by his Department to overcome the problem of the potato surplus in County Donegal.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - County Donegal Potato Surplus.
9.
Surplus potatoes in County Donegal can be disposed of through the factories of Ceimicí Teoranta at Labbadish or Carndonagh, both of which are in operation. The Irish Potato Marketing Company has arranged to make a special payment in respect of surplus up-to-date seed disposed of to the Labbadish factory and I understand that the company is considering the question of a similar arrangement for seed surpluses of other export varieties.
My question relates to what help the Minister hopes to give the farmers in Donegal, not to what help the Potato Marketing Board is giving in Donegal. Will the Minister answer that question?
The Potato Marketing Board was established to deal with and to handle the problem of the disposal of potatoes, seed and ware. It is their responsibility and I think they are making a fair, good job of that task.
I would fully agree with the Minister that the Potato Marketing Board are doing a good job but it is a fallacy to say that the Potato Marketing Board are giving them a subsidy. They are simply paying back the farmers the farmers' money accumulated in this industry and the Department of Agriculture and the Minister are doing nothing.
What is the question?
What help will the Minister for Agriculture give the farmers in Donegal?
Even if what the Deputy says is correct——
It is correct. Concede that it is correct.
——I say that when this Board was established it was established for the purpose of effecting the orderly marketing of both seed and ware potatoes. There was no question on the occasion of its establishment of the payment of a subsidy towards the disposal of the potato crop. What I am claiming is that the Board concerned has made a fair, good job of the task that was given to them.
Question No. 10.
In view of the fact that there are 3,000 to 4,000 tons of seed potatoes surplus in Donegal and 4,500 to 5,000 tons of ware potatoes, I propose, with the permission of the Ceann Comhairle, to raise this matter on the Adjournment.
I have indicated to the Deputy that the Board will consider the matter. The Board has already subsidised to the extent of £6 per ton a fairly substantial quantity of seed potatoes of the up-to-date variety. It is the Board's intention, according to the information supplied to me, to consider the question of subsidising the disposal of the remainder of other export varieties of seed. It is true to say that the export of seed this year was much higher than last year—in fact, 53,000 tons as against 39,000 tons last year. Of that total quantity, 43,000 tons of seed potatoes were exported from Donegal as against 33,000 tons last year. As far as the ware potatoes are concerned, it does not appear to me, from the figures I have obtained, that any problem will exist in their final disposal maybe not at prices that will be all that favourable from the growers' point of view but in this particular sphere there is always that degree of uncertainty as to what farmers will get from their potatoes as is the case in many other crops.
Further to the Minister's reply——
Order. Question No. 10.
——may I point out that foundation stock in the first year was £5 10s. per ton—that was during the Economic War—but now it is only £8 10s. per ton.
I have called Question No. 10.
With the permission of the Chair, I propose to raise this matter on the Adjournment.
If Deputy Harte persists, I shall have to ask him to leave the House.
The Minister has his chips.
Question No. 10.