asked the Minister for Agriculture if he will state what measures he proposes to take to encourage the cultivation of the flax crop in the Free State.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Cultivation of Flax.
Dr. Ryan
Consideration is being given to the desirability of again making available in districts where flax growing is practised the services of one or more of the flax instructors who a couple of years ago were transferred to other work under my Department.
Surely the Minister is aware of the scarcity of the raw material of the linen industry at the moment? Surely he does not believe that sending an instructor into a rural district is going to give any impetus to the flax-growing industry? Would it not be more in the Minister's line to make a pronouncement, something of the nature that Dr. Ward, Parliamentary Secretary to the Department of Local Government and Public Health, made in Monaghan in connection with the development of agriculture by developing a flax scheme for this year? The question is: Would the Minister let the people know immediately—that is, the people who grow flax in Monaghan, Donegal, Sligo and Cork and elsewhere—what the scheme was so that they might take steps to grow flax this season?
Is there a flax scheme?
I would like to know from the Minister is there a flax scheme or is he going to make a pronouncement on the matter?
Dr. Ryan
Not at present.
Surely the Minister knows that the time is now ripe to make a pronouncement. He knows that it is time now for the farmers to start ploughing their land for the flax and that the time is ripe to make a pronouncement on this matter if there is to be a flax scheme.