asked the Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries the number of creamery milk suppliers debarred to-date, because of adulteration of milk, from participation in the scheme which provides for payment of the Exchequer milk price allowance and quality bonus to creamery milk suppliers; and the period for which they were debarred.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Milk Price Allowance and Bonus Schemes.
37.
A total of 200 creamery suppliers whose milk was found on test to contain added water were debarred on various dates between 1st April, 1970, and 1st March, 1971, inclusive, from participation in the schemes operated by my Department which provide for payment of Exchequer milk price allowance and quality bonus. No pre-determined period of debarment was fixed but, on review of their cases, 65 of the suppliers in question have been readmitted to participation, the average period of their debarment having been two months. The cases of the remaining 135 suppliers will be reviewed as occasion warrants.