asked the Minister for Agriculture if he is satisfied that the use of large quantities of limestone for road building will not affect supplies for agricultural purposes in the future in certain areas of the country and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Ceisteanna—Questions Oral Answers. - Limestone Supplies.
35.
There is no evidence to suggest that the use of limestone for road building will affect supplies of ground limestone for agricultural purposes in the future. Deposits of limestone throughout the country are considered to be quite adequate to serve both purposes.
The Minister may not have taken into account that there is not all that much limestone, with over 90 per cent calcium content, in the country suitable for ground limestone under the Department's schemes. This stock could well be eroded by its use in road making which is not a problem in my part of the country but which may be in other places. It is well known that we have not so much limestone with over 90 per cent calcium.
The Deputy is probably aware that magnesium limestone is equally as effective as calcium limestone for the main use to which ground limestone is put. I do not believe there is any possibility of our running short of material for ground limestone for agricultural purposes.
Could I draw the Minister's attention to the fact that in certain parts of the country we are already short and are, in fact, by special dispensation, allowing certain of our limestone quarries to supply limestone of a content below what we regard as best? In fact, we have given them a derogation from the requirements of quality because we do not have sufficient deposits of high quality limestone in the northern parts of the country.
I do appreciate the fact that our limestone reserves are somewhat unevenly distributed. There are transport problems in certain parts of the country and in those cases certain special measures are taken to ensure that the farmers in those areas are supplied with limestone, in Wexford, for example.
The remaining questions will appear on tomorrow's Order Paper.
Might I give notice that with the permission of the Chair I wish to raise a question on the Adjournment as to whether or not the announced secret agreement by Mr. Atkins has in fact taken place—that is with our country, with the Taoiseach? That is the first question. Question No. 2 is connected with the air corridor, the pledged air corridor that is supposed to have been agreed.
I will communicate with Deputy Blaney.
We have had enough secret agreements in the past.