asked the Minister for Agriculture if he will state from what source the flax Development Board is financed; whether any part is derived from payments made by British Ministry of Supply for flax delivered by Irish growers; and, if so, whether it is a fact that the money so paid was given to beneficiaries of the board rather than to the flax-growers.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Flax Development Board.
The Flax Development Board, Limited, receives from the British Ministry of Supply grants for the development of flax growing and for improving the facilities for processing the crop. No portion of the price fixed for growers is diverted to the board.
Would it be incorrect to say that the British Ministry of Supply gave growers of flax in Éire a bonus of 2/6 per stone, that 1/- of that amount was retained by the Irish Department of Agriculture wherewith to finance the Flax Development Board, and 1/6 was handed to the growers?
No deduction of any kind was made in the payment.
But the Minister for Agriculture said there was.