asked the Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries the increase in the price of pig meal in the last 12 months, according to his departmental statistics; and the increase in the cost of production of a pig on the basis of a usage of 6 cwt. of pig meal during the life of a pig.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Cost of Pig Production.
14.
Figures compiled by agricultural instructors in eleven centres throughout the country and published in my Department's monthly Bulletin indicate that retail prices of pig fattening meal decreased in some cases and increased in others during the period from February 1966 to February 1967. The maximum decrease recorded was 2/- per cwt. and the maximum increase 2/6 per cwt. On the basis of the suggested usage of 6 cwt. of pig meal the cost of production of a pig in relation to these figures would vary from a decrease of 12/- to an increase of 15/-.
I assure the Minister that the increased price is far more prevalent than the decreased. If the figure, therefore, is 12/-, will the Minister agree with me that in the case of a farmer who bought at £2 10s even as a result of the last Budget increase, he is now getting 6/- per pig less on an average, on a pig which kills at eight stone, which is normal.
I do not agree with the Deputy at all.
If the Minister looks at some agricultural statistics he will find that I am right.
Those are agricultural figures.
Could the Minister say in what areas the price is reduced?
Out of the nine figures I have got, Wexford, Macroom and Tralee are the areas in which there are decreases. I should say that in relation to two of the 11 returns I might have got, those for Cavan and Athlone have not come. The three I have named are the three decreases at the moment.
Could the Minister give the cause of the decrease? Was it a decrease in quality?
No more than I can indicate why there was an increase in some cases.
Indeed, the Minister can indicate why there was an increase.
Yourself and Deputy Clinton can work it out. He wants to know why there was a decrease and you want to know why there was an increase.
I know why there was an increase the same as the Minister does.
You can work it out.