Skip to main content
Normal View

Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 28 Feb 1952

Vol. 129 No. 8

- Milk Production Costs.

asked the Minister for Agriculture if he has satisfied himself that the cost of producing milk varies considerably throughout the country; and, if so, whether he will consider granting an increased subsidy to creamery suppliers in areas which are specified as congested or undeveloped and where the holdings are mainly uneconomic.

I am aware that the cost of producing milk is not uniform throughout the country. The subsidy payable to creameries by my Department is, however, calculated to ensure that creameries on average will be in a position to pay the guaranteed prices for milk announced from time to time. As I stated in reply to a similar question on the 30th ultimo I am not prepared to alter the present system whereby the same rate of production allowance is paid to all creameries, as to do so would only open the door to the payment of differential rates of production allowance generally which, apart from being most undesirable in principle, would in practice prove unworkable.

Does the Minister not want to do anything for those people? Has the Minister no interest in the small farmers in those congested districts?

Mr. Walsh

I am afraid that matter does not arise on this question at all.

Were not those congested districts defined in the recent Undeveloped Areas Bill? What is to prevent the Minister from paying to the milk producers in those areas a greater subsidy than that which generally obtains?

Mr. Walsh

There is no subsidy paid to producers. The subsidy is paid to creameries and not to producers.

Am I to understand that, although the Minister agrees that more should be produced, he is not prepared to take any action in this matter?

The Deputy should use the third person.

Top
Share