asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the annual report made by the county medical officer of health for County Offaly wherein he draws attention to the failure of the free milk supplies during portions of the year and the ill effect of such failure on the health of infants; and, if so, whether he proposes to take any action in the matter.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Offaly Free Milk Supplies.
My attention has been drawn to the report in question. The making of arrangements for the supply of milk is primarily a matter for the public assistance authority concerned. It is open to any public assistance authority which cannot obtain supplies of liquid milk to make dried or condensed milk available of which adequate supplies can be obtained. I am advised that in the year covered by the report the shortage of supplies of liquid milk under the free milk scheme in Offaly was confined to one district and that so far as is known at present only one family was affected.
Is the Minister aware that the statement which appeared in the public Press was only a very short extract from the report of the county medical officer of health? Is he also aware that it appears from the full text of the report that:—
"In some areas of the county, mothers have a difficulty in obtaining supplies of fresh milk for their children, particularly at certain seasons of the year? In some areas parents, although entitled to supplies of milk under the free milk scheme, cannot get supplies. This is a factor which must have a very important bearing on infant welfare, particularly amongst the poorer classes of the community."
I should like to ask the Minister further whether he is satisfied that the county medical officer of health has acted quite correctly and in accordance with the facts? Is the Minister aware of the fact that, in the Poullough and Shinrone areas in the County Offaly it is impossible to get contractors to supply milk under the free milk scheme?
The Deputy is now enlarging the scope of the question, and is not asking a supplementary question.
I am asking the Minister if he is quite satisfied that the county medical officer of health has reported quite correctly in accordance with the facts to be seen in the reports in the county council offices?
As far as I can trace this matter, there is only one family in the County of Offaly that is affected.
Is the Minister aware that, in the district of Poullough, which is near Ferbane, it is impossible to get contractors to supply milk, and that the county medical officer of health in making that report, intended to indicate that the shortage of milk was due to the fact that there were no contractors to supply the milk? He was not finding fault with the milk scheme but rather was drawing attention to the fact that mothers could not obtain milk for their children because there were no contractors applying under the scheme.