asked the Minister for Agriculture whether the Milk Costings Commission has yet finished its work; whether the £100 provided for it in the current year's Estimates has yet been expended; whether it is proposed to make additional funds available for it, and, if so, the amount of such additional provision; and when the commission expects to be in a position to furnish its report.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Milk Costings Commission.
asked the Minister for Agriculture if he has received any recent communications from the Milk Costings Commission, and, if so, if he will state the nature of such communications; if he is now in a position to state when the commission's report may be expected; and whether he received a request from the Irish Creamery Milk Suppliers' Association to receive a deputation, and, if so, what is the present position in the matter.
I propose, a Cheann Comhairle, with your permission, to take Questions Nos. 19 and 20 together.
I regret to state that the Committee on Milk Production Costs has not yet finished its work and as will be seen from the following communication dated 14th April received by my Department from the technical director, the latter is unable to give a definite date as to when he expects to submit his report to the committee:—
"Flat A,
81 Merrion Road,
Dublin.
14th April, 1956.
Dear Secretary,
In regard to the position of the Milk Cost Inquiry there is little to add to my last letter to you.
The first part of the report giving results for the liquid milk areas is being prepared for circulation to be considered by the committee and should be available for circulation in a couple of weeks' time.
Apart from any attention required by this part of the report work is henceforth being concentrated on the preparation of the report for the creamery areas.
I regret that I cannot give a definite date for its submission lest I should mislead.
The inquiry throughout has been found to be more tedious than was expected and its completion involves concrete work that cannot be shortcut or rushed.
It is proceeding as quickly as is possible and can only be allowed to take its course; there will not be any avoidable delay.
Any embarrassment that has been caused the Minister of Agriculture by my optimism for the earlier submission of the results is much regretted.
Yours sincerely,
(Sgd.) T.A. Smiddy."
I have not received a request from the Irish Creamery Milk Suppliers' Association to receive a deputation but I understand such a request was received by An Taoiseach. Of the token sum of £100 provided in the current year's Vote for my Department to cover the cost of the committee, £88 12s. 6d. was expended up to and including 21st April. In view of the uncertainty as to when the committee will complete its work it will be appreciated that I am not in a position to say what further expenditure will be necessary.