asked the Minister for Agriculture if he is aware that under the present system of bounties farmer or home-made butter receives in bounty twopence per pound less than creamery butter, and that the return in respect of home-made butter is altogether inadequate to meet the cost of production, and if in view of this fact he will take immediate steps to increase the bounty paid in respect of such butter.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Bounty on Home-made Butter.
Dr. Ryan
Owing to the fact that levy under the Dairy Produce (Price Stabilisation) Act, 1932, is collected on all creamery butter produced, whereas levy is, at present, collected only on non-creamery butter acquired by registered exporters, the difference between the rate of levy and the rate of export bounty on creamery butter is greater than the difference between the rate of levy and the rate of export bounty on non-creamery butter by twopence per pound.
Steps have already been taken with a view to increasing the bounty on non-creamery butter and the matter has been discussed fully with the exporters. To what extent an increase may be possible will depend entirely upon the amount of levy that can be collected on the considerable quantity of farm butter handled by butter traders which is not at present subject to levy.
Mr. Flynn
In view of the fact that some areas are very far removed from creameries, I ask the Minister to take special note of their circumstances and to give special consideration to the outlying districts where the farmers have no option but to sell their produce at a price under the cost of production.
Dr. Ryan
I told the Deputy that the matter was being dealt with.