asked the Minister for Agriculture if he will state why the lime subsidy has been reduced by 50 per cent. in County Clare this year, and whether, in view of the fact that there is no other potential source of supply open to farmers this year, he will accede to the terms of the resolution on the subject adopted unanimously by the county committee of agriculture at their meeting on Saturday, 21st January, 1950.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Lime Subsidy in Clare.
The maximum subsidy for burnt lime this year is 15/- per ton. In County Clare last year the subsidy varied from 22/- to 34/- per ton. Burnt lime at current prices is no longer an economic method of supplying lime to agricultural land, and supplies of ground limestone are being made available through private enterprise all over the country. I understand that there are plans in progress for the erection of a ground limestone plant in County Clare, the product of which will be available at 15/- per ton ex quarry, and that there will also be available a service of delivering it and spreading it on the land. In addition to this, under the land rehabilitation project any farmer in Clare whose land requires rehabilitation can have lime and phosphate spread on the land dealt with under the project.
The only reason for retaining the subsidy on burnt lime at all is to ensure that lime burners shall not have their means of livelihood abruptly terminated, and that they may be afforded an opportunity of adjusting their output to the knowledge that burnt lime, unless it were possible to produce it at prices much lower than at present quoted, will no longer be used for agricultural purposes, and that they will be able to engage in alternative occupations as the demand for burnt lime tends to diminish to the point where it will be sufficient to cater for the demand for lime wash and similar purposes.