asked the Minister for Agriculture whether he is aware of the demand for a travelling creamery in the following districts of County Clare, viz., Rineen, Freagh, Ballyvaskin, Illaun, Luas, Rockmount and Fahanlunaghta; and, if so, whether he will arrange to have such facilities provided.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Travelling Creamery for Clare.
The answer to the first part of the question is "yes." The Dairy Disposal Company is at present examining the feasibility of providing travelling creamery facilities in the districts referred to by the Deputy, and will do its utmost to provide such facilities at the earliest practicable date.
In the meantime I would suggest to the farmers in these areas that they avail themselves of the concession granted under the "Carriage of Milk Order, 1949," whereby milk producers can have their milk conveyed to creameries or cream-separating stations during the period ending on the 30th September next by owners of motor vehicles who may not be the holders of general merchandise licences.
Is the Minister aware that that facility is of very little use to these small farmers, none of whom are provided with lorries? They are living mostly in mountainous districts and I doubt if there would be even one lorry in the district.
I fully appreciate the difficulties in that particular area and I wish to emphasise the first part of my reply, that the survey is proceeding and arrangements being made, but the concessions in transport referred to do not relate exclusively to lorries. If anyone had a tractor or any other motor vehicle which could be used ad interim to relieve an urgent situation they might combine to ask a neighbour to come perhaps some little distance to carry out transport for them. But I merely add that as an ad interim measure while better arrangements are, in fact, being made.