asked the Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries if he will give details of the steps taken by his Department to enable the agricultural industry to take the necessary adaptation measures for entry to the EEC with particular reference to the Dairy Disposal Board.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Agricultural Industry Adaptation.
35.
As a preparation for EEC membership all the main sectors of the agricultural industry have been specially surveyed and the industry at all levels has been given every encouragement to carry out such adaptation measures as may be necessary to meet the conditions which would apply in an enlarged community. Considerable State support is, of course, being provided for the development of agricultural production, and substantial grants and assistance have also been provided for the processing and marketing branches. The Dairy Disposal Company, for their part, have been taking steps to improve the efficiency of their plants and has also been participating in efforts to effect creamery rationalisation and the development of new milk processing projects in a number of areas.