asked the Minister for Agriculture if he will state (a) the average output during the years 1947, 1948, 1949 and 1950 of the glass-houses erected in the Gaeltacht areas; (b) the average price per lb. of tomatoes received during each of those years by the producers; (c) whether he is now satisfied that these glass-houses are of assistance to the economy of the smallholders in these areas; and (d) whether he is prepared to make more glass-houses available to the smallholders who request them.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Gaeltacht Glass-Houses Scheme.
Pádraig Ó Cuinneáin
The replies to the Deputy's queries are:—
(a) The average output of tomatoes in respect of the glass-houses erected under the Gaeltacht glass-house scheme was 15½ cwt. for 1948, 19 cwt. for 1949 and 20¾ cwt. for 1950. Production did not commence until 1948.
(b) and (c). The average price per lb. realised by the Connemara growers for their tomatoes was 1/1½ in 1948, 7¾d. in 1949 and 7¼d. in 1950; the corresponding returns for Donegal are 1/1 in 1948, 6d. in 1949, and 7d. in 1950. From these figures are deducted the stipulated share of expenses and, in certain cases, a sum to meet the annual charge and amortisation of the loan. The net receipts of all growers in Connemara were £5,389 in 1948, £4,821 in 1949 and £4,500 in 1950. The net receipts of the Donegal growers were £5,466 in 1948, £3,250 in 1949 and £4,300 in 1950. As, however, the expenditure out of my Vote in respect of this scheme was £47,769 in 1947-48 (of which £46,940 was of a capital nature), £53,140 in 1948-49 (of which £47,217 was capital), £10,810 in 1949-50 (of which £6,746 was capital) and £3,892 so far in 1950-51 (of which £1,037 is capital), it is doubtful whether much time, labour and material might not have been saved by issuing these sums as free grants to the beneficiaries and allowing them to produce turf, eggs or pigs with the time, labour and material saved.
(d) I am not prepared to recommend the extension of the scheme.
Is the Minister still of opinion that this scheme is a disgusting fraud, particularly when compared with his proposal to push Connemara rock into Galway Bay?
Would the Minister consider banning imports of foreign tomatoes during the period when the Gaeltacht tomatoes are on the market?
That is a separate question.
It has a bearing on this question, I think.
It would be another adjuvant to sinking this scheme into the slough into which it has sunk.
Will the Minister concede that portion of the failure of the scheme may be due to the Minister's attitude to it?
I think the evidence and the facts are that care lavished on this scheme for the last three years has rescued it from collapse and, in my submission to the House, it is a very remarkable achievement to have prevented these people from being involved in serious loss.
You are stuck with them.