asked the Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries if he is aware of the serious decline in the sheep population in the Republic; and what steps he proposes to take to remedy this situation.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Sheep Population.
21.
While there has been some decline in sheep numbers in recent years from the record figure of 1965, this has been caused, in part, by a switch in some areas from sheep to other expanding lines of farm production such as cattle and dairying. Steps already taken to encourage increased sheep production include the following:—
Under the carcase mutton and lamb export subsidy scheme close on £½ million was paid in export support in 1967-68 and the scheme is also helping to support prices for the substantial proportion of the sheep and lamb output which is disposed of on the home market. The mountain lamb subsidy scheme provides a useful stimulus to increased sheep production; a total of some 365,000 lambs qualified for payment of subsidy under the scheme this autumn.
Has the Minister not admitted in spite of the subsidy that the numbers are still declining? Is he not aware that it is of the greatest urgency and importance to increase the subsidy to these people? This is a valuable export and a useful sideline for small western farmers. Does it not appear straight away it is necessary to increase the subsidy substantially?
A subsidy was only introduced this year. It is only in its second year and it has been doubled in the past year. While the decline has only been evident since 1965 and the subsidy introduced in 1966 at some stage it operated for one year at the 10/- rate and then it was increased last year without any discrimination as between the type of lamb to £1 per lamb. It has only been in operation for the past season. What the Deputy is asking for is what is being done. There has been a subsidy introduced following the decline after the high record numbers in 1965. That has been increased in 1968 and we are hopeful this will have in these particular areas the effect of increasing the numbers held over. I understand great numbers are being held over and I would like to say that I hope the money that has been received by way of subsidy by these people holding over lambs will be used to feed them a bit better and have them more profitable and take them through the winter alive than has been the case in winters past.
Will the Minister also take steps to ensure that wool is not sold at approximately half its value as happened this year?
This is a separate question from that of the drop in sheep numbers.
That is coming.