asked the Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries if he is aware of the dissatisfaction among farmers, especially in Counties Mayo and Roscommon, over the increased rate per ton being charged for the carriage of ground limestone; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Ground Limestone Transport Cost.
26.
Under the ground limestone transport subsidy scheme purchasers of ground limestone in all counties pay a flat rate of 46p per ton towards the cost of transport from the quarry to the purchasers' premises. The greater part of the transport cost is met by an Exchequer subsidy, which averages over £1 per ton and cost £1.52 million last year.
While there has been a regrettable decline in limestone usage, the cost of liming land in this country is still cheaper than anywhere else in Europe. Having regard to the value of liming in terms of increased output, I should like to repeat my advice to farmers that they should not indulge in the false economy of cutting back limestone usage.
Could the Minister indicate the amount of the increase in the counties in question, Mayo and Roscommon?
Mayo and Roscommon are not mentioned here except in regard to the dissatisfaction of people, but it is the same throughout the country.
It is in the question.
Mayo is mentioned specifically for the purpose of the by-election. I thought the Deputy would have known that. This is a loaded sort of question and there is not very much in it other than that.
Apart from that, could the Minister tell me, in reply to the question I put to him, how much was the increase?
It is to the Deputy's own constituency he is referring.
I gave the rate per ton being charged, 46p per ton.
Is that the current charge?
What is the percentage increase?
I cannot give the percentage.
Does the Minister know how much per ton was charged previously?
I have given the total cost per ton for delivery on the farm. It is still very small.
Question No. 27.
Does the Minister not know or does he not want to tell us the extent of the increase?
By Government decision CIE have overall responsibility for operating the scheme except for limestone produced by CSET, the Irish Sugar Company. The subsidy is paid by the Department to CIE as haulage rates negotiated from time to time and approved by the Government. Up to 3rd December, 1974 the Exchequer subsidy covered the total cost of transport from the quarry to the farmers' premises subject to mileage limitations. This averaged £1.03 per ton on a national basis.
Is that the subsidy?
Is that the total cost?
In August, 1974 the Government decided that any increase in CIE's operating costs of the scheme would not be met by a subsidy and that the users of ground limestone should contribute to increased transport charges at a flat rate of 21p per ton of limestone purchased. I believe that is what the Deputy was looking for. The increase was 21p.
That makes the price 46p now. Is that right?
Yes.
I am sure the Minister will agree that that is a very substantial increase.
A 21p per ton increase?
Yes, giving a total of 46p.
Would it keep any farmer from putting on lime?
It is a 100 per cent increase.
It is almost 100 per cent increase, as the Deputy has pointed out. In the context of that, is the Minister serious in urging farmers to continue applying limestone when clearly the Government are not trying to encourage them? On the contrary, if they are allowing an increase of nearly 100 per cent they are doing the exact opposite?
I have illustrated with many examples the results of putting on lime and artificial fertilisers and the returns that will be got from the money spent. If the Deputy is trying to discourage people by pretending that 21p extra for a ton of lime should induce them to make up their minds not to put on lime he is doing a great disservice to farmers.
Deputy Colley was not doing any such thing; he was merely saying how hard it is to convince people. The Minister and I agree that it is a good thing to use lime but when the price is put up by 21p so that it is now 46p the ordinary farmer is not putting the lime on.
This is not a question. Next question, please.