asked the Minister for Agriculture what progress has been made towards setting up in his Department a costings section.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Agricultural Costings Section.
In concluding the debate on the Adjournment on this subject on 13th May, 1948, I outlined the difficulties I had in endeavouring to find a costings system which could be applied successfully to the farming conditions of this country.
This question is now under discussion and the minimum time requisite for a prudent decision in this matter will be allowed to elapse.
May I ask is it the intention of the Minister to postpone the setting up of a costings section indefinitely, as it appears so from his answer?
I do not think the Deputy is interpreting the answer correctly. I would ask him to accept it quite literally that the minimum time requisite for a prudent decision in this matter will be allowed to elapse. Perhaps it will help the Deputy if I add to that that in principle I intend a costings system to be established although it may be confined to a re stricted sphere of the agricultural industry for the time being.
Will it be established in time for the fixing of prices for next year?