asked the Minister for Transport and Power the number of tons of beet lying unprotected in wagons at various railway stations in Cork, Kerry and Waterford for the past fortnight awaiting transport to the sugar factory; if he is aware that beet rapidly deteriorates if left exposed to weather conditions, particularly frost ; what steps are being taken by Coras Iompair Eireann to have this beet reloaded and removed by road transport ; if he is aware that the Coras Iompair Eireann Road Transport Section have refused to handle this beet; if he is further aware that large quantities of beet which in the ordinary way went by rail are lying on roadsides awaiting transport, and that the Coras Iompair Eireann Road Transport Section have refused to handle it; and if in view of this serious position he will suspend the operation of the Transport Act to allow the haulage of such beet by unplated lorries and tractors.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Transport of Beet in Southern Counties
I am informed that so far there has been no damage caused by weather to the beet in wagons or by the roadside and that such damage is likely to be caused only by a sharp frost followed by a rapid thaw.
I am also informed that there has not so far been any shortage of beet at the Mallow factory which is being kept going with supplies of beet from areas served by road transport. I am keeping the situation under close review in consultation with Comhlucht Siuicre Eireann and C.I.E. with a view to taking any special measures that may be called for.
Is the Minister aware that there are 9,000 tons of beet lying at various railway stations, loaded in wagons, for the past fortnight and that C.I.E. have not even the common decency to put a cover on the wagons to save the beet from frost? That would be an easy thing to do. Is the Minister aware that one frosty night will reduce the value of that beet to the farmers concerned by at least 50 per cent? Every day it is lying there it is deteriorating. That is the position. Because of that, and in view of the steps taken on a previous occasion, would the Minister not now give permission to have the embargo removed on the lorries and let them haul the beet?
I can assure the Deputy action will be taken in good time and he need have no fear in regard to the situation so far as any action I can take is concerned.
The position is that the Sugar Company are in the happy position that they do not care a hang if the beet gets frosted. It is the farmer who will pay, not the Sugar Company.
The Deputy is making a speech. Has the Deputy a question?
I am pressing the Minister to do the commonsense thing in this matter, namely, remove the embargo and let the beet be drawn in. Is the Minister aware that at the moment there are two Gardaí stationed at the entrance to Mallow factory in case any man might get in there with his own beet on his own lorry?
The Deputy knows that I met himself and a deputation from the Irish Beet Growers' Association. I think at that time I satisfied the members that action would be taken in time. I quite understand the Deputy's anxiety in regard to this. We are fully alive to the position in every respect— to the condition of the beet along the roadside and the average period it generally lies there. We are going to take action which ought to be very satisfactory under the very difficult circumstances we face.