asked the Minister for Agriculture if he is aware of the Donegal seed potato growers' difficulties; and the steps he proposes to take to assist them.

The adverse weather in 1985 created difficulties for seed potato growers in County Donegal. The scheme now being introduced to provide a 5 per cent subsidy on loans for tillage farmers affected by bad weather includes potato growers.

Would the Minister agree that this is one aspect of farming which presents a great opportunity for developing an export market? Would he also agree that down the years the Department have been very slack because they have not pursued the export of seed potatoes?

This is a commercial operation and I am not sure it is completely the Department's function, although it may be partially their function. I paid a visit to Donegal two weeks ago particularly to view the seed potato industry at first hand and I am very concerned as a result of what I learned on that visit. This business has been in serious decline for approximately 20 years. Donegal used to export something like 70,000 to 80,000 tons of seed potatoes per annum, and their exports are now as low as 12,000 tons per annum. There are a number of contributory factors for that, one being that the new varieties being produced in continental countries in particular are selling much better than the varieties produced at home. We have only produced one variety of significance in recent times, known as Cara. An Foras Talúntais, at the research station in Oakpark, Carlow, are trying very hard to produce new varieties but I believe it takes 14 years to develop a new strain of seed potatoes. As Deputies can see, it is an enormous task to produce good new varieties and they are making encouraging progress. I hope this will lead to a revitalisation of the seed potato industry.

Would the Minister not agree that that is an indictment of An Foras and the Department because in the late fifties and sixties when I was involved in this area there was a very remunerative export market, but over the following ten years nothing has been done about producing the new varieties which anybody could see were necessary to ensure a continuity of that market abroad?

I fully agree and alluded to that in my reply. For many years not enough was done in this area and European producers of seed potatoes have taken over the market we once had. This is very serious and we are entitled to be concerned.

I want to put on record our appreciation of the Minister's visit to the Donegal farmers in the last two weeks because both side benefited. In view of the information the Minister gathered when he visited the farmers and saw their plight at first hand, is he satisfied that the steps which have been taken are sufficient to meet the disastrous situation?

As I stated, I intend to include the seed potato growers in the scheme for reduced interest loans. That is about as much positive aid as I can tender at the moment.

Is that on a national basis?

The real problem lies with the lack of variety of new seed potatoes, and the fact that we are dependent on one variety is not good enough.

Is the Minister satisfied that the enterprise of the Potato Marketing Board is sufficient to lift the potato industry, which is now on the floor, to the position it was in 20 years ago? In the figures given in an earlier reply, the Minister told us about the money flow to Donegal farmers in recent years but that flow has disappeared, through no fault of theirs. In my view, it is not sufficient to leave responsibility to the Potato Marketing Board alone; the Department must step in and assist these people at this very vital time.

At some of the meetings I attended in Donegal, dissatisfaction with the operation of the board was expressed, but I am not sure that that criticism was justified. I have made some inquiries and find that the board are doing their utmost to help. However, I will be taking continued interest in this matter, as will my Minister of State, Deputy Hegarty, because we are seeing a serious reduction in the output of seed potatoes which was a major industry in Donegal.

This is the last supplementary question.

Does the invitation to Donegal farmers to direct access to the Minister and the Department still stand?

Certainly.