asked the Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries the tonnage of fertilisers sold for the years ended (a) 31st May, 1974, and (b) 31st May, 1975.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Fertiliser Industry.
24.
Statistics relating to fertiliser sales and usage are compiled for the annual period from 1st July to following 30th June which is the generally recognised "fertiliser year". In these circumstances sales figures for years ended 31st May are not available. The sales figures for the year ended 30th June, 1974, were 1,272,388 tonnes gross. The June, 1975, figures are not yet available.
Does the Minister accept that there has been a 40 per cent drop in fertiliser usage? What steps are being taken to stem that drop?
There are indications of a substantial drop in phosphate and potash but there has been an estimated increase of 15 per cent in the use of nitrogen.
Is it not very serious now? People are using nitrogen-our fertilisers on their land and are not using phosphates or potash. Farmers in future years will be suffering from the effects of this.
It is very serious.
The Minister admits this is very serious. The use of phosphates and potash is down by 50 per cent. Would the Minister do something by way of subsidy to encourage farmers to use phosphates and potash? Let him not be telling us about EEC regulations: let him encourage farmers to put proper fertilisers on their lands.
There is a drop in fertiliser use throughout Europe because of price resistance. It is a false economy.
Farmers have not got the money. Encourage them by way of subsidy.
25.
asked the Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries if he will provide adequate subsidies to reduce the price of fertiliser to farmers.
26.
asked the Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries if EEC funds are available to subsidise the purchase of fertilisers by farmers; and, if not, when a subsidy will be available for this purpose.
With the permission of the Ceann Comhairle, I propose to take Questions Nos. 25 and 26 together.
A Government subsidy is already payable on phosphatic fertilisers in order to reduce the price to farmers and I see no prospect of increasing it. There is no EEC scheme to subsidise the purchase of fertilisers by farmers and there is no indication that such a subsidy will be provided in the future.
Would the Minister tell us how is the subsidy this year compared with 1970?
I could tell the Deputy off the cuff that it is well down, but there is no other country in Europe giving any subsidy.
Is the Minister not aware that because of redundancies in the fertiliser industry we will be paying out more than £50,000 per week in redundancy payments and dole? Would it not be much better to provide proper subsidies so that men would be kept in employment?
The same situation exists in every country in Europe.
That is no good. I am asking the Minister if he agrees it would be much better to provide further subsidies, thereby saving the State £50,000 per week in dole money?
This Government have done something which previous Governments never did——
They made a mess of it.
When were the subsidies reduced last?
We brought in an employment premium to encourage people to employ workers who would otherwise not be in employment.
Surely the Minister is aware that the price of manures has gone up from £30 to £100 and that this is a desperate situation? He talks about false economies. How can people be encouraged to manure their lands if there are no subsidies?
Manure prices have gone the same way in all EEC countries.