Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 13 Feb 1992

Vol. 415 No. 7

Written Answers. - Ground Limestone Subsidy.

Enda Kenny

Question:

180 Mr. Kenny asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food if he regards ground limestone as being of importance as a fertiliser; if he will reintroduce a lime subsidy as was paid previously; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

Minister for Agriculture and Food (Mr. Walsh)

I am aware of the importance of liming for agricultural land, where required, in order to gain the best results from fertilisers and for optimum crop yields and quality.

My Department and Teagasc continue to encourage farmers to have their soil sampled on a regular basis and to have the requisite amount of lime applied. Subsidies were used in the past to help the agricultural sector reach the desired level of lime usage and they were successful in this regard. It is now a matter for farmers to maintain the lime status of land as it becomes depleted.

Lime is a relatively low-cost farm input and its beneficial effect continues to act on the soil for a number of years. The most cost effective means for maintaining lime status is to have regular soil tests with sections of the farm limed in rotation. In this way the annual financial outlay can be minimised.

The funds available to me are being distributed to support the most pressing needs of agriculture and there is no scope for considering the introduction of a lime subsidy at this time. In any event, the EC rules do not allow for the introduction of a national scheme.