asked the Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries if it is his intention to change the hill sheep subsidy as there is great dissatisfaction with the manner in which this subsidy was operated this year.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Hill Sheep Subsidy.
5.
In accordance with normal practice the conditions and operation of the mountain sheep subsidy scheme will be reviewed next year in the light of experience gained and suggestions received.
Could the Minister say if he has received representations from the General Council of Committees of Agriculture that this scheme be renewed and extended to all crossbreeds?
Certainly no such representations were received in my time in the Department of Agriculture. I do not know whether they have been received since.
I understand it is since the Minister left the Department.
Is the Minister aware that there is grave dissatisfaction this year with the manner in which this scheme has been operated? Does he envisage changes for the better next year?
I wish to point out to the Deputy that this is a completely new scheme, an innovation. It was the first time that any Government ever lifted a finger to help the sheep farmers.
Nonsense.
Absolutely true. As far as you were concerned, the sheep farmers did not exist.
Go away; do not be talking through your hat. A fat lot you know about sheep. You cannot tell a wether from a ewe.
He might know that all right.
The scheme was an innovation and it was expressly stated by me to be subject to review when we had experience of its working in the first year. Quite a number of people throughout the country were unaware of the basic purpose of the scheme and therefore expected it to be extended to a type of ewe not originally included.
Is the Minister aware that the effect of the lifting of the finger to which he referred was to depress the price of lambs by between £1 and 30/- each as compared with last year?
That is completely incorrect.
Ask the Kerry farmers.
Lamb and sheep prices this year were, by and large, at the same level as last year.
Substantially lower —between £1 and 30/- apiece.