asked the Minister for Agriculture if he is aware that owing to the present low prices for pigs, rapid depletion is taking place in the breeding stock of the Saorstát; whether his Department propose taking any steps to prevent this, such as making use of the Agricultural Instructors to educate the farmers by public meeting or otherwise on the necessity of preserving the pig-breeding stock of the country and the disastrous economic consequences of failing to do so.

The Minister has asked me to ask the Deputy to kindly repeat this question next week, as it has not been possible to prepare a reply in time for to-day.