§ 19. Mr. BOLANDasked the Vice-President of the Department of Agriculture (Ireland) whether, in view of the necessity for an increased supply of iodine from home sources, steps will be taken to develop the kelp industry on the West Coast of Ireland; and whether, in view of the fact that with good drying of the seaweed and incineration to a light ash more than double the average amount of iodine can be obtained, a new issue of the leaflet already prepared by the Department will be circulated amongst members of the district councils on the Western Coast of Ireland?
§ Mr. T. W. RUSSELL (Vice-President of the Department of Agriculture, Ireland)The leaflet to which the question appears to refer was published by the Congested Districts Board and not by the Department. The kelp industry is almost entirely confined to congested districts, but the Department are prepared to co-operate in any steps which may seem practicable for developing the industry, in view of the present shortage of chemical products derivable from kelp.