Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Wednesday, 29 May 1957

Vol. 162 No. 1

Written Answers. - Expenditure on Imports.

Mr. McQuillan

asked the Taoiseach if he will state for the years 1955/56 and 1956/57 the total amount expended on imports, and in particular on imports of (1) cereals and feeding stuffs, (2) vegetables and fruit, (3) animal foods, other than at (1) and (2), (4) hides and leather, (5) timber, (6) paper and cardboard, (7) textiles, etc., (8) clothing, (9) boots and shoes, (10) material for industry, and (11) material for agriculture.

The Taoiseach

The total value of imports in the year ended 31st March was £202,178,000 in 1956 and £175,971,000 in 1957. Imports of items (1) and (2) and of items (4) to (9) are shown in Table 1, and estimates of imports of items (10) and (11) are shown in Table 2. Particulars of imports are brought to account by reference to the commodity classification specified in the official import list and the descriptions used in Table 1 relate to that list. The animal foods referred to at item (3) are not readily identifiable in the official import list, but if the Deputy will let me have fuller particulars of the commodities he has in mind I will see if the values of such imports are available.

TABLE 1.—Value of imports in certain commodity groups in each year ended 31 March, 1956 and 1957.

Description	Year ended 31 March
1956	1957
	£000	£000
Cereals and feeding stuffs	11,385	10,152
Fruit, nuts and vegetables	6,622	5,303
Hides, skins and leather	1,594	1,370
Wood and timber	7,260	5,247
Paper and cardboard	7,358	6,625
Textiles	19,183	18,828
Boots and shoes	19,183	176
Other apparel	1,962	1,319

TABLE 2.—Value of imports by certain main uses in each year ended 31 March, 1956 and 1957.

Use category	Year ended 31 March
1956	1957
	£000	£000
Materials for further production:
For agriculture*	9,373	9,361
Other	116,550	98,324

*Materials for agriculture, e.g., maize, which are processed before use in this country have been included in "Other materials for further production."