asked the Minister for Local Government and Public Health whether he is aware that poor persons resident in or near many small villages throughout the country are experiencing difficulty in securing fresh milk because those who formerly supplied them can no longer do so as their premises, though generally well constructed and clean, do not actually comply with the law; that as the suppliers referred to sell only small quantities of milk, they prefer to go out of the business rather than incur the expense of reconstructing their premises, and if, in the circumstances, he will have the regulations so modified that such suppliers will be allowed to sell milk until their customers can get supplies from persons whose premises are constructed in accordance with the law.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Supply of Fresh Milk to Villages.
I am aware that in a few areas a number of dairymen who sold small quantities of milk have ceased the business of dairymen; the premises of these dairymen do not comply with the Milk and Dairies Regulations, and are not such as to enable clean milk to be produced therein. I would point out that any premises which are well constructed and clean can, with little alteration, conform to the regulations, and the great majority of small suppliers have, in fact, complied with the requirements. Sanitary authorities have not been unreasonable in their demands on dairymen, and only the minimum requirements in regard to the condition of premises have, as yet, been enforced.
I am not prepared to modify the regulations as suggested by the Deputy. These regulations embody the principles which must be observed for the production of clean milk, and have been brought into operation in response to a widespread demand for an improved milk supply.
Arising out of the Minister's reply, the real difficulty in this matter is that the expense that would be involved would not be justified or warranted by the income that would be derived by those people from the sale of milk. They are really obliging the poor people in the locality by selling the milk to them, and I would like to know if the Minister would consider that aspect of the case.
I have considered all aspects of it.
Is the Minister aware that in some particulars his instructions as to structural alterations are diametrically opposed to the instructions of the Minister for Agriculture, and will he take steps to ensure that there is some consultation between the Department of Agriculture and the Department of Local Government and Public Health with a view to getting uniform regulations in the matter of cow-house building?
There has been constant co-operation and consultation between the Department of Agriculture and my Department in this matter.
Is the Minister aware that in one particular at least his instructions are diametrically opposed to those of the Department of Agriculture, and that one case has arisen where a man built a cow-house under the directions of the Department of Agriculture and was obliged to tear up the floor under the directions of the Minister for Local Government and Public Health?
I am not aware of that.
Well, that has happened.