asked the Minister for Agriculture if he is aware of the dissatisfaction expressed by the milk suppliers in the Ballinskelligs area, County Kerry, because of the proposals to close the auxiliary creamery there, and of the representations made to his Department to acquiesce to the demands of the suppliers; if he will make a statement with regard to the proposed change; and if satisfactory agreement has been or is likely to be reached between the milk suppliers and the Dairy Disposal Company.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Ballinskelligs (Kerry) Creamery.
20.
I do not consider that the Dairy Disposal Company should be expected to maintain in operation creamery premises which changing circumstances have rendered uneconomic, so long as reasonable alternative arrangements can be made for the milk suppliers concerned as has been done in this case.
Is the Minister aware that prior to the closing of this auxiliary creamery new machinery was installed at great expense and that a pasteurisation plant was also installed at great expense? Why was that done prior to the closing of the creamery?
The decision in this matter is the responsibility of the Dairy Disposal Company. As a result of a good deal of correspondence that passed through my office, I examined all the documents and evidence on which I could lay my hands to see if the decision made by that body was a reasonable one. As I have stated in this House previously, I concluded that the decision is reasonable.
Is the Minister definitely committed to the closing of this auxiliary creamery or has it been closed already? Is it in use at all now?
It is used at the present time as a collection point.