asked the Minister for Agriculture if he is now in a position to state what price will be payable to producers for farmers' butter of good quality.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Price of Farmer's Butter.
I have nothing to add to the previous reply given to the Deputy on this subject on the 7th June.
Can the Minister not give an indication to producers of what price they are entitled to?
I regret that it is not possible for me to add anything to the reply I gave the Deputy on a previous occasion, but I think it relevant to observe that my purpose in connection with this problem is to make accessible to those who find themselves induced to make farmers' butter at present creamery facilities which will remove that obligation from them at the earliest possible moment, and it is being done.
Is the Minister aware that farmers' butter is being purchased at 1/6 and 1/8 per lb. and, I have heard, at an even lower price? Does the Minister realise that that is an altogether inadequate price, being equivalent to 7d. or 8d. a gallon for milk, and surely he must realise that an injustice is being done to producers of farmers' butter which ought to be remedied and which cannot be remedied by supplying creamery facilities in the course of a few years?
I am happy to inform the Deputy that I entirely agree with him. The price receivable for farmers' butter is, in my judgment, entirely inadequate, and I would deplore any proposal to perpetuate a situation in which people with surplus milk were required to dispose of it in the form of farmers' butter; but if the Deputy is labouring under the illusion that creamery facilities are to be supplied in the course of the next two years, I am happy to dissipate that illusion. Creamery facilities have been supplied in every district reported to me as being embarrassed by a surplus of milk within the past fortnight, and, in any area where 2,000 gallons of milk can be collected in a circuit of 40 miles, I am prepared to provide facilities, provided there is a central creamery within 40 miles of the suppliers. I would appreciate the Deputy's co-operation in helping me to locate such districts and organising them for the economic disposal of any milk that may be in them.
Is the Minister aware that creameries were established all over Leinster during the past 20 years and almost invariably have failed? Is not that very poor inducement to people to invest capital in that way?
Ah, but considering the unfortunate circumstances of the last 15 years, I am sure the Deputy will share my hope that a repetition of such disasters is not likely in the present happy state of the country.
Is the Minister aware that, unfortunately, some of these creameries closed before 15 years ago?
My memory does not go back to ancient history.