asked the Minister for Agriculture whether he has any estimate of existing stocks of old and new oats in the country, and what the probable domestic requirements of Éire will consume in the cereal year ahead.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Stocks of Oats.
I am not in a position to give an estimate of the quantity of old oats in the country, but I have no reason to think that over the whole country there has been much if anything more than a normal carry over. Estimates of the yields of the current year's crops are not yet available, but having regard to the preliminary estimate of 676,200 acres under oats, the difficulty of obtaining supplies of maize and other imported feeding stuffs and the high prices which have to be charged for them when obtainable, I am of opinion that the whole of the 1940 oats crop will be required for home consumption in the next 12 months.
Surely the Minister told us not very long ago that he was having a survey made, with a view to determining the actual quantity of old oats in the country?
Yes; but I could not say that we got returns from everybody. Our information showed that the quantity was about the same as in 1935 and 1936, when we did get returns.
Does the Minister mean to say that there were no more old oats at the end of 1940 than at the end of 1937?
So far as our investigations went, the quantity did not appear to be appreciably above normal.
I cannot compliment the Minister, as I am certain that it was substantially above normal.