asked the Minister for Agriculture whether he is aware that there is an acute shortage of ware potatoes in Dublin; whether export licences were recently issued by his Department, and, if so, to whom.

I am not aware of any acute shortage of potatoes in Dublin. The market there is being adequately supplied at present.

No licences for the export of ware potatoes have been issued recently save for the comparatively small quantities required to fill contracts previously entered into by the Irish Potato Marketing Company.

asked the Minister for Agriculture whether he is aware of the hardship caused among the poorer sections of the community in Dublin City by the recent increase in the retail price of potatoes to 11d. a quarter stone, and, if so, what action he proposes to take in the matter.

The price of ware potatoes normally increases as the season advances and existing stocks become exhausted. The present price on the Dublin market is the same as at the corresponding period of last season and I am not aware that the recent increase is causing any greater hardship this season than in previous seasons.