asked the Minister for Agriculture if he will state the estimated annual cost and expenses of An Bord Gráin; and whether they are being paid by his Department or being met by the levy imposed on wheat growers.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Expenses of An Bord Gráin.
An Bord Gráin has only been constituted recently and it is not possible, at this stage, to give the Deputy an estimate of the annual costs and expenses. These costs are being met from the funds available to the board.
Is that the 5/9?
Not in its entirely.
Would the Minister explain what the other funds are if it is not entirely the 5/9?
If the funds do not prove to be sufficient, the Exchequer will stand in and make good any deficiencies.
Will the board then purchase the foreign wheat necessary to fill up the amount required for flour because of a deficiency in the harvest, and will they then not have a surplus of £1,000,000 in funds representing £10 per ton on 100,000 tons?
That is a wonderful calculation, made very quickly, but it does not arise on this question.
But it is a fact.