asked the Taoiseach the change which occurred in the agricultural price index between the latest three-month period for which figures are available and the same period two years earlier.

20.

asked the Taoiseach the change which has taken place in the livestock price index number between October 1978 and October 1980.

21.

asked the Taoiseach the increase in agricultural input prices which occurred between the latest three-month period for which figures are available and the same period two years earlier.

With the permission of the Ceann Comhairle, I propose to take Questions Nos. 19, 20 and 21 together.

In the three months ending October 1980, the latest three-month period for which the information is available, the changes on the corresponding period in 1978, to base 1975 as 100, in the agricultural output and input price indices were a marginal decline of 0.6 per cent and an increase of 30.7 per cent respectively. The livestock price index, to base 1975 as 100, declined by 3.3 per cent between October 1978 and October 1980.

Would the Minister of State agree that this indicates a serious decline in living standards on the part of the farming community in that the prices they have to pay are going up while the prices they are being paid are remaining static?

We accept that the farmers have their problems. The Deputy will accept also that the efforts being made by the Government and the Minister for Agriculture to improve matters are going to prove fruitful.