§ Mr. FFRENCHasked whether the Irish Board of Agriculture have made any experiments on sugar-beet growing; whether they have any special fund for that purpose; and whether, in view of the fact that the soil of Wexford is said to be suitable for the growth of sugar-beet, and that there is a derelict distillery in Wexford town which might, at a small expense, be converted into a sugar factory, there are any funds vested in the Board of Agriculture to give assistance to such a project?
§ Mr. BIRRELLThe Department of Agriculture have made experiments in the cultivation of sugar-beet. They have no 1386 special fund for the purpose. In existing circumstances beet cannot, in the opinion of the Department, be grown profitably in Ireland, and they are not prepared to render financial assistance to the establishment of a factory as suggested.