asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce the number of flour mills closed since a reply of 20th March 1963; the changes that have taken place in the milling quotas to bring production into line with the national consumption; and the changes, if any, that have taken place in wheatmeal milling licences since 1945.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Closing of Flour Mills.
12.
Since the 20th March, 1963, I have been advised by the proprietors of eight flour mills that they had decided to cease milling wheat and surrender their milling licences. The quotas of these mills totalled 298,378 barrels and represented approximately 9 per cent of the global flour milling quota of 3,313,773 barrels. I have arranged for an increase of the milling quotas of the remaining flour mills by 7½ per cent to 3,241,551 barrels. Milling of wheat by the flour mills in the cereal year ended 31st August, 1963, amounted to 2,998,421 barrels. This represents approximately 90 per cent of the current quotas.
In referring to wheatmeal milling licences the Deputy presumably has in mind the annual wheatenmeal percentage licences granted under the Agricultural Produce Cereals Acts to the licensed mills. The total quantity of wheatenmeal authorised to be produced in 1945 was 186,525 barrels and the current authorised production is 172,859 barrels.