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Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 24 Apr 1951

Vol. 125 No. 9

Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Milk Price Recommendation.

asked the Minister for Agriculture if he received a price recommendation from the Dublin Milk Board relative to the 1951-52 season and if that recommendation was for an increase of 4d. per gallon; and, if so, if he will state what factors influenced him in rejecting it and whether the increase of 1d. per gallon authorised by him is considered adequate to compensate producers for increased costs of labour, feedings and other requirements.

The answers to the first two parts of the question are in the affirmative.

As regards the remaining parts of the question, I am satisfied that the increase of one penny per gallon in the price of milk as recently announced provides a remunerative return to farmers who produce milk for liquid sale in the Dublin district.

Is the Minister aware that the recommendation made to him by the Milk Board was made after very careful consideration of all the relevant factors, particularly the increased cost this year as compared with the cost in other years, and does he consider that the producers are adequately compensated for their increased costs in the matter of labour, feeding and in other respects by the granting of an increase of only 1d.?

I am satisfied that the increase of 1d. on creamery and liquid milk, involving as it does an addition of £1,000,000 sterling to the annual income of the farmers, is a fair recognition of the existing milk production situation and the cost of production.

Does the Minister realise that an increase of £1,000,000 sterling amounts to nothing if the cost of production has meanwhile increased much more than that?

£1,000,000 sterling has never in my experience been a sum to be put into a child's hand.

Would the Minister not agree that the costs have exceeded that figure?

I have nothing further to say with regard to that aspect of the question, over and above what is contained in my first answer.

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