asked the Minister for Finance what steps he has taken to alleviate the hardship to farmers of South Tipperary as a result of the temporary closure of the Comhlucht Siúicre Éireann factory at Thurles.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Thurles Sugar Factory Closure.
38.
I understand from Comhlucht Siúicre Éireann Teoranta that all possible steps have been taken to ensure that beet growers in the Thurles factory area will not be at any loss because of the unavoidable delay in starting the factory campaign. The company is transferring beet from the area to its other three factories at a rate exceeding 50 per cent of the weekly beet tonnage that would normally be received at the Thurles factory, and this transfer is being carried out at no extra cost to the growers. The factories at Carlow, Mallow and Tuam are working at maximum capacity at present and deliveries of beet from growers in these areas have had to be reduced to cater for the intake from the Thurles area.