asked the Minister for Finance if he will give the following details regarding the potato processing plant at Tuam, County Galway, for each year since it was established: (a) details of the profit or loss made each year; (b) the price paid per ton for potatoes to farmers, and tonnage; (c) the cost per ton for potatoes grown by the company and tonnage; (d) the number employed full-time; and part-time; and (e) the annual output of the company.
Written Answers. - Tuam Potato Processing Plant.
The information is as follows:—
Potato Processing at Tuam.
Year ended |
Profit or Loss† |
Price Paid per ton to farmers |
Tonnage |
Cost per ton of potatoes grown by Company‡ |
Tonnage |
Numbers employed |
Annual output in tons |
|
Full-time |
Part-time |
|||||||
£ |
£ |
£ |
||||||
30 April 1964 |
65,000 |
8.50 |
12,732 |
— |
— |
50 |
117 |
1,540 |
30 April 1965 |
33,000 |
8.50 |
2,174 |
— |
— |
55 |
35 |
312 |
30 April 1966 |
37,000 |
9 |
3,862 |
— |
— |
51 |
35 |
588 |
30 April 1967 |
42,000 |
10 |
12,096 |
— |
— |
52 |
85 |
1,974 |
30 April 1968 |
45,000 |
10 |
19,907 |
— |
— |
53 |
97 |
3,013 |
30 April 1969 |
42,000 |
11 |
20,876 |
— |
— |
53 |
93 |
3,307 |
30 April 1970 |
24,000 |
11 |
23,146 |
— |
— |
54 |
98 |
3,782 |
30 April 1971 |
4,000 |
11.25 |
37,827 |
— |
— |
70 |
116 |
5,890 |
30 April 1972 |
(49,000) |
12 |
35,326 |
— |
— |
85 |
95 |
5,768 |
30 April 1973 |
(252,000) |
12 |
7,170 |
— |
— |
83 |
45 |
1,637 |
30 April 1974 |
(127,000) |
16 |
26,932 |
— |
— |
84 |
80 |
3,874 |
30 April 1975 |
(123,000) |
19 |
21,987 |
— |
— |
60 |
87 |
3,199 |
1 May 1975—30 Sept. 1976 |
(15,000) |
36.50 |
7,996 |
— |
— |
47 |
63 |
785 |
30 Sept. 1977 |
(269,000) |
75.50 |
8,279 |
52 |
4,369 |
54 |
70 |
1,514 |
30 Sept. 1978* |
(550,000) |
55 |
14,600 |
51 |
7,285 |
65 |
71 |
2,800 |
* Estimated. Figures in brackets represent losses.
† Figures for 1964, 1965 & 1966 are factory results only i.e. exclude marketing costs. For balance of years figures exclude R & D and central overhead charges.
‡ Costs include renting of land.