asked the Minister for Agriculture if he will state what quantities of fertilisers will be available for purchase by farmers in the coming season under the following heads: superphosphate, basic slag, ground rock phosphate, potash, nitrogen and other fertilisers.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Supply of Fertilisers.
As raw materials for home manufactured fertilisers as well as finished fertilisers have to be imported it is not possible at this stage to give a reliable estimate of the quantities of the different types of fertilisers which will be available for the 1951-52 season but present indications are that the total quantity will be approximately the same as in 1950-51.
asked the Minister for Agriculture if he will state the amount (in volume) of each type of artificial fertiliser purchased by the Irish Sugar Company in each month in 1951 and the source from which it was obtained.
This information is not in the possession of my Department. Having regard to the fact that Comhlucht Siúicre Éireann has been engaged in fertiliser transactions on a commercial scale, not only as agent for the Minister for Agriculture but also on its own account, and as transactions of this kind form part of the ordinary business of the company over which I have no control, I am not prepared to ask the company to supply the information sought.