asked the Minister for Supplies if he is aware that on Friday, the 16th April, and Saturday, 17th April, flake meal was unobtainable in Dublin, and that potatoes were 2/- per stone; and if he will cause inquiries to be made into the price and scarcity of these necessaries.

I am not aware that flake meal was unobtainable in Dublin on the dates mentioned, but supplies are now becoming scarce owing to the difficulty experienced by oatmeal millers in obtaining their requirements of oats at the controlled price.

The maximum retail prices of potatoes in Dublin have been fixed at 1/8 to 1/10 per stone, according to variety, and my Department has received no evidence that they were sold at 2/- per stone. If the Deputy is in a position to furnish information that the statutory prices have not been observed in any instance, appropriate action will be taken in the matter.

Questions regarding availability of supplies of potatoes for the Dublin market should be addressed to the Minister for Agriculture.

Will the Minister take steps to fix the price of potatoes that are sold wholesale?

It is fixed.

Is the Minister aware that the wholesalers are selling potatoes at a price in excess of 1/8 per stone?

The wholesale price of potatoes is fixed, and if the Deputy has information that anybody is breaking the law in that respect, I should be glad to have the information.

Can the Minister hold out any hope that the citizens of Dublin will be able to get adequate supplies of potatoes?

I have already explained that that is a question that should be addressed to the Minister for Agriculture.

About two months ago I addressed a question to the Minister in connection with this matter of the possible shortage of potato supplies, and he then said that he was keeping the situation under review. It now seems that he is "passing the buck" to the Minister for Agriculture. Why was the price not fixed?

It was fixed.

How it is that, in England, the price was fixed at 2d. a stone less than in Dublin?

That is a separate question.