asked the Minister for Agriculture the percentage of our cattle stock which is wintered out at present.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Wintering out of Cattle.
13.
Approximately 50 per cent of dry stock are outwintered at present.
Would the Minister agree that there is not a hope of our competing in production in any market-place until most of our stock is yard-wintered? Furthermore would the Minister agree that we have a very poor conversion diet, a greater disease risk diet and that we must face up to the situation that incentives will have to be given to people to provide the necessary housing?
I have never argued with the Deputy on that point and we have discussed it on several occasions. It is one of the factors that militates against better prices for our beef abroad — the fact that we have so many cattle out on the land in winter time. It is estimated that there are approximately 4 million dry stock in the country and, when one considers that 2 million of those are left out during winter time, we cannot be satisfied with the situation.
Would the Minister agree that it is surprising he did not take account of that factor when reintroducing the farm modernisation scheme? Would the Minister agree further that people should be given grant aid to provide cheaper type housing, — thereby getting the cattle off the land — and constituting something people would be able to provide?
The main factor in the reintroduction of the farm modernisation scheme was the provision for the housing of livestock; that was the main thrust of that reintroduced scheme.
The Minister restricted development farmers. Other farmers who did not have sufficient enterprise were debarred completely. Throughout the west the scheme was totally restricted.
I agree that certain categories do not qualify.
Has the Minister any plan to make the western package less restrictive?
There has been a series of questions on the western package.
Under the Farm Modernisation Scheme how many of the two million cattle wintering out will be housed? The Minister referred to them himself. Now is his opportunity to tell us.
I am sure there are more cattle to be rehoused than Jehovah's Witnesses in New Ross.
If we had a few more cattle and fewer Jehovah's Witnesses we would be better off. Jehovah is the only roof our cattle have. The Minister should not be mixing religion with politics.