asked the Minister for Agriculture in view of the changing dietary attitudes in recent years of consumers, the plans he has for the development of the horticultural industry.
Ceisteanna — Questions. Oral Answers. - Horticultural Industry.
32.
The overall acreage of horticultural crops has increased steadily in recent years and there is a high degree of market self-sufficiency in the general range of vegetables such as cabbage, carrots, lettuce and turnips. My Department operate a number of schemes to aid the development of the horticultural industry. These include aid under the farm improvement programme, grants for conversion of glasshouse heating systems from oil to solid fuel, aid for the formation and operation of producer groups, and aid for market co-ordination in the horticultural industry.
In 1985, ACOT launched a more specialised advisory service in the production and marketing of fruit and vegetables with special emphasis on the reduction of imports in a range of products. An Foras Talúntais in their research programme are paying special attention to the extension of the growing season with a view to cutting down on unnecessary imports. Initiatives have also been undertaken by commercial interests to improve production and marketing. I might add that the IDA have also stepped in and grant aided a number of groups involved in horticultural production and processing.
Would the Minister of State agree that the change in dietary attitudes in recent years will have considerable implications for the agricultural and horticulatural industry? Given consumers' over dependence on imports there is a need to get a co-ordinating body to organise the horticultural industry to supply a greater range of horticultural products to the consumer.
I agree with the Deputy. Such a body is in existence, we would like the IFA Horticultural Grouping to have a little more support. That body are there for that purpose. They have now formed Commercial Horticultural Producers Society of Ireland Limited. We forgot to mention potatoes. They now have both a potato co-operative and a horticultural co-operative precisely for that purpose. We must not lose sight of the fact that our market, particularly for the main summer seasons, is very small. One of the big risks I would see is that we cannot have people willy-nilly growing all sorts of horticultural produce without having their marketing secure. That is why I am appealing to more and more horticultural producers to tie in to the co-operative. What usually happens is that when the going is good, for example, when horticultural produce is scarce and dear, no one wants to know about the co-operative.
A short question.
Would the Minister of State agree that one of the problem areas in the horticultural industry is the glasshouse sector which in recent years has gone into serious decline because of the excessive energy costs which apply in that area? Despite the fact that a grant scheme for the conversion to solid fuel boilers was introduced some time ago, it was not sufficiently attractive to encourage growers to change over. If they did change over, their energy costs at the end of the year were still too dear and left producers in a difficult position in competing with imported tomatoes.
The Minister of State has time for a yes or no answer.
The answer is very simply, however long it will last, our energy costs are very competitive.
I would like to raise on the Adjournment Question No. 33 of 4 June.
I will communicate with the Deputy.