asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food if he will make a statement concerning the establishment of a national potato co-operative; and if he will ensure that adequate grant moneys are honoured from his Department in order that all equity investments made by individual growers and farmers will be refunded to them in view of the termination of the co-operative.
Written Answers. - Potato Co-Operative.
86.
The Irish Potato Farmers' Co-Operative received aid totalling almost £107,000 from my Department in respect of its operations in 1984 and 1985. Further Exchequer aid for 1986 was contingent on the co-operative making satisfactory commercial progress and on its operations being financed to a significant degree from non-Exchequer sources. As these conditions were not met, no further aid was made available from public funds.