Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Tuesday, 25 Apr 1978

Vol. 305 No. 9

Written Answers. - Tuam Potato Processing Plant.

320.

Mr. Donnellan

asked the Minister for Finance if he will give the following details regarding the potato processing plant at Tuam, County Galway, for each year since it was established: (a) details of the profit or loss made each year; (b) the price paid per ton for potatoes to farmers, and tonnage; (c) the cost per ton for potatoes grown by the company and tonnage; (d) the number employed full-time; and part-time; and (e) the annual output of the company.

Minister for Finance (Mr. Colley)

The information is as follows:—

Potato Processing at Tuam.

Year ended	Profit or Loss†	Price Paid per ton to farmers	Tonnage	Cost per ton of potatoes grown by Company‡	Tonnage	Numbers employed	Annual output in tons
Full-time	Part-time
	£	£		£
30 April 1964	65,000	8.50	12,732	—	—	50	117	1,540
30 April 1965	33,000	8.50	2,174	—	—	55	35	312
30 April 1966	37,000	9	3,862	—	—	51	35	588
30 April 1967	42,000	10	12,096	—	—	52	85	1,974
30 April 1968	45,000	10	19,907	—	—	53	97	3,013
30 April 1969	42,000	11	20,876	—	—	53	93	3,307
30 April 1970	24,000	11	23,146	—	—	54	98	3,782
30 April 1971	4,000	11.25	37,827	—	—	70	116	5,890
30 April 1972	(49,000)	12	35,326	—	—	85	95	5,768
30 April 1973	(252,000)	12	7,170	—	—	83	45	1,637
30 April 1974	(127,000)	16	26,932	—	—	84	80	3,874
30 April 1975	(123,000)	19	21,987	—	—	60	87	3,199
1 May 1975—30 Sept. 1976	(15,000)	36.50	7,996	—	—	47	63	785
30 Sept. 1977	(269,000)	75.50	8,279	52	4,369	54	70	1,514
30 Sept. 1978*	(550,000)	55	14,600	51	7,285	65	71	2,800

* Estimated. Figures in brackets represent losses.

† Figures for 1964, 1965 & 1966 are factory results only i.e. exclude marketing costs. For balance of years figures exclude R & D and central overhead charges.

‡ Costs include renting of land.