asked the Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries if the Irish Sugar Company propose to give a bonus of £1 5s per ton to farmers who grow potatoes under contract; if this will be applied to all areas; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Potato Growing Bonus.
8.
This is a matter of contracts made by the company with the growers concerned. I understand that two alternative types of contract, at the option of the grower, were operated for the 1966 crop. The first type provided for a basic price of £9 per ton, with a possible bonus depending on profits earned by the company on the sale of processed potato products. The second type provided for a flat price of £10 per ton, without bonus. The company recently announced that a bonus of £1 5s per ton was being paid to suppliers of potatoes of the 1966 crop who had opted for the first type of contract, making the final price payable to such suppliers £10 5s per ton. The area in which the potatoes were grown did not affect the position.
I am informed that two types of contract will also be available for the 1967 crop.