Skip to main content
Normal View

Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 8 Apr 1943

Vol. 89 No. 14

Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Dublin Milk Supply.

asked the Minister for Agriculture if he will state (1) what quantities of milk bought from creameries which do not normally supply milk to Dublin were distributed by the Dublin District Milk Board during the recent shortage to (a) wholesalers, (b) retailers, and (c) public institutions, especially schools; and (2) in what proportion were the specific quantitative requirements of each fulfilled by the board.

asked the Minister for Agriculture (1) whether prior to the milk shortage in Dublin he had any reason to contemplate it, and, if so, what steps, if any, were taken by him to ensure an adequate supply; and (2) whether he is taking any steps to prevent a similar shortage next winter.

I will take Questions No. 18 and No. 19 together. I would refer the Deputies to my answers to their questions of 24th ultimo. The additional milk supplies were distributed in the main through wholesalers who, in turn, distributed them to meet requirements on the lines I have already indicated. It would not be possible, even after elaborate inquiry, to furnish details of the ultimate disposal of the additional supplies. The biggest individual requirement was that of the Dublin Corporation Schools Meals Scheme, for which about 6,000 gallons of milk are needed weekly. Approximately half this requirement was met out of the Milk Board's supplies; the remainder was met by the contractor to the corporation. The needs of the scheme were fully supplied. Certain institutions were also fully supplied as occasion arose.

A slight shortage of milk for Dublin in the early weeks of this year was envisaged. The actual shortage was about 14,000 gallons per week, of which from 10,000 to 11,000 gallons were made good by the additional supplies, leaving the net shortage at about 4,000 gallons per week out of a normal weekly consumption of about 300,000 gallons.

I would like to know what answer the Minister has to the first paragraph of Question 19, which asks whether, prior to the milk shortage in Dublin, he had any reason to contemplate it and, if so, what steps, if any, were taken by him to ensure an adequate supply.

I answered that.

What was the answer? I could not catch it. Would the Minister be good enough to repeat it?

I said a slight shortage of milk was envisaged and provision was made to get it from outside.

Is the Minister aware that a query addressed to his Department, prior to the shortage, by the Irish Housewives' Committee, elicited the information that no milk shortage was pending? In view of that fact, will the Minister say whether that information was given by his Department to the Irish Housewives' Committee in good faith and, if it was, how could the Minister or his Department provide against a milk shortage which they did not contemplate?

Any information given by my Department to the Housewives' Committee or to anyone else was given in good faith. The Deputy may take that for granted. I would have to check it up, but if they said definitely there was going to be no milk shortage I am surprised. Even if they did say that, the shortage actually amounted to 1 per cent. of the normal supply.

The Minister's Department informed this committee that there would be no shortage and that his Department did not contemplate any shortage.

They said they would deal with the shortage when it occurred.

Top
Share