asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce the type and quantity of fertilisers used in this country for 1971.

As the information requested by the Deputy is in the form of a tabular statement, I propose, with your permission, a Cheann Comhairle, to have the statement circulated with the Official Report.

The particulars have been compiled by the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries and relate to the last complete fertiliser season (1970-71) commencing in July, 1970 and ending in June, 1971. They are given in terms of nutrient content rather than in bulk terms.

Following is the statement:

Consumption of Fertilisers 1970-71

38.

asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce the present level of protective tariff in respect of the fertiliser industry.

The fertiliser industry is protected by customs tariff only in respect of certain phosphatic fertilisers and compound fertilisers. The rate of duty is 16 per cent. These duties do not apply to imports from the United Kingdom. In addition, the duty on superphosphates does not apply to imports from Canada, and the duty on compounds and other phosphatic fertilisers does not apply to imports from the British Commonwealth. Complete concentrated fertilisers are nominally subject to the 16 per cent duty on compound fertilisers if they are imported from countries outside the British Commonwealth. In practice, however, licences authorising their importation at the reduced rate of 5 per cent are freely given. All nitrogenous or potassic fertilisers are free of duty.

39.

asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce the location and employment content of the fertiliser manufacturing industry in this country.

The fertiliser factories are located in Dublin, Kilkenny, New Ross, Arklow, Cork, Limerick and Galway.

The average employment in the industry during the fertiliser year ended 30th June, 1971, was approximately 2,400. This includes industrial workers and administrative, technical, and clerical staffs.