asked the Minister for Agriculture the total cold storage space available in this country; and the total space currently used for the storage of agricultural products under EC intervention.
788.
Written Answers. - Agricultural Products Storage.
787.
asked the Minister for Agriculture the total amount and value of (a) butter and (b) meat held in this country under EC intervention at January 1984 and the latest date for which figures are available.
789.
asked the Minister for Agriculture the total cost to the Exchequer of the hire or purchase of space for the storage of agricultural products in intervention for each of the last ten years.
It is proposed to answer Questions Nos. 787, 788 and 789 together.
There has been a considerable increase in Irish cold storage capacity this year but my Department does not have information on total current capacity.
On 30 November 1984 total intervention stocks of 87,000 tonnes of beef valued at £196 million and 57,000 tonnes of butter valued at £145.6 million were held in Irish cold stores. Arrangements have recently been made to sell some 23,000 tonnes of these butter stocks. The equivalent stocks at 1 January 1984 were 56,000 tonnes of beef valued at £118.5 million and 51,000 tonnes of butter valued at £126.9 million.
The net cost incurred by the Exchequer in respect of storage of intervention products in each of the last ten years was as follows:
|
£m |
|
|
1975 |
0.339 |
|
1976 |
1.861 |
|
1977 |
Nil |
|
1978 |
0.668 |
|
1979 |
1.103 |
|
1980 |
1.684 |
|
1981 |
1.913 |
|
1982 |
0.103 |
|
1983 |
5.286 |
|
1984* |
7.756 |
* Up to 30 November.