asked the Minister for Agriculture whether he is aware that milk producers in the Cloyne-Aghada area, County Cork, are anxious to have a branch creamery erected in the district, that they have subscribed a sum of £2,800 share capital representing a cow population of 2,800 and that the area has been surveyed by departmental inspectors whose reports favoured the project; and, if so, if he will take the necessary steps to ensure the erection of an auxiliary creamery to meet the requirements of the people concerned.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - County Cork Branch Creamery.
Mr. Walsh
I am aware that a number of milk producers in the Cloyne area of County Cork are anxious to have a cream-separating station established there but as I informed the Deputy by letter on 26th June, 1953, the matter is one solely for the Imokilly Co-operative Creamery, Limited, and while I am quite prepared to grant the necessary licence under the Creamery Act, 1928, I have no power to compel the society to provide such a separating station.
According to the information available to my Department, the Imokilly society has had the question of the provision of a separating station in this area under consideration for some time past, but the society was some months ago obliged to defer the project, for the time being at any rate, owing to lack of support from a sufficient number of farmers. If the local farmers still wish the project to be proceeded with, I would suggest that they should again approach the society when I am sure the Deputy will be willing to use his good offices to assist them in the matter.