asked the Minister for Agriculture if he will state the reason why a bounty of only 10 per cent. is paid on cattle exported from Donegal as against 12½ per cent. for the remainder of the Free State.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Bounty on Cattle in Donegal.
Dr. Ryan
When the rates for export bounty on cattle were being fixed it was felt that to pay the same rate of bounty on cattle exported through land frontier stations as on cattle exported through Saorstát ports might result in a diversion of traffic from these ports to the advantage of ports in Northern Ireland. I have to remind the Deputy that the 10 per cent. rate was not, as might appear from the wording of the question, confined to cattle exported from County Donegal; it applied also to all cattle exported through land frontier stations.
I should like to ask the Minister has he really considered that reply—that any diversion would take place across the land frontier? Why should diversion take place across the land frontier? The natural situation of Donegal makes it only possible to export across the land frontier and there is no other county in the Free State can say the same. From the practical point of view and indeed if you look at it on the map, one must ask how are cattle to be sent from Donegal in any other way only through the land frontier?
Dr. Ryan
The Deputy though he-lives in Donegal will be glad to hear that the system has changed since the 1st May.
Is the same rate of bounty now available for cattle?
Dr. Ryan
It is a flat rate now.
As on this side of the Border——
Dr. Ryan
It does not matter whether they cross the Border or go by sea, the rate is now the same.