asked the Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries if he will state (a) the total amount paid each year for in-calf heifer grants for the years 1964-65, 1965-66, 1966-67 and 1967-68, and (b) the total number of calves of three months old and under exported to (i) Northern Ireland, (ii) Britain and (iii) the Continent for each of the four years; and if he is satisfied that the scheme for increasing the cattle population in the Republic does not suffer as a result of the export of calves of three months old and under.

: As the reply is mainly in tabular form, I propose, with your permission, a Cheann Comhairle, to have it circulated with the Official Report.

Following is the statement:—

Total amount paid each year in grants under Calved Heifer Scheme.

There are no statistics available as to the export of calves of three months of age and under. The following table shows total calf exports 1964-1967:—

Exports of Calves (male and female)

In the same years imports of calves (all from the Six Counties) were:—

I am satisfied that the net export of calves has had no adverse effect on the country's cattle population.