Vol. 444 No. 6
149 Mr. Leonard asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry if he has satisfied himself that he is getting value for money from investment under the operational programme for rural development 1991-93, for the potato sector in view of the continuing high imports of ware potatoes.
Investment in the potato sector under the operational programme for rural development 1991-93 was mainly in the form of assistance towards the provision of insulated and temperature controlled storage. The purpose of this investment was to encourage the more orderly marketing of the potato crop principally by extending the marketing season.
However, unfavourable weather conditions in the summer of 1993 resulted in a considerable reduction in yields and a consequent scarcity of potatoes towards the end of the current marketing season.
I consider that further investment in the sector is desirable and that an assessment of the benefits of the investment which has already taken place can only be measured over a number of years.
