asked the Minister for Social Welfare why a free school milk scheme does not operate in this country.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Free School Milk Scheme.
4.
County borough councils, urban district councils and town commissioners are empowered to operate free school meal schemes in their areas and 47 of them do so. In addition the county councils of Counties Cork, Kerry, Galway, Mayo and Donegal operate schemes in specified Gaeltacht areas of those counties. It is a matter for each local authority to decide whether milk should be supplied under the schemes.
Is there any reason for not introducing this scheme countrywide especially as it is subsidised to the extent of 50 per cent by the EEC?
There is no reason for any local authority not adopting the scheme.
Would the Minister agree that the scheme as it is supposed to operate in Gaeltacht areas is not being operated?
I am not aware of that.
I could let the Minister have some instances.
Has the Minister become aware that in many areas there is difficulty in obtaining supplies of fuel to service these schemes, that turf and briquettes are very difficult to obtain and that it is almost impossible to obtain coal?
The question deals with school meals.
Has the Minister given any further consideration to the idea of extending the school milk scheme by way of the utilisation of available EEC moneys?
The situation has not changed very much since I discussed it here last but as the Deputy knows from replies I have given on other occasions, the school meals system is under review. I am awaiting a report on it which I hope to have very soon. In addition, negotiations are in progress in Brussels about milk generally and when those discussions have concluded we shall be looking at the situation again.
Is the Minister satisfied that the Department have pushed adequately the advantages of the utilisation of a free milk scheme by the various local authorities? It would appear that not all local authorities are adopting the scheme, that we are at a loss somewhere in this regard. Utilisation of the scheme in certain parts of Dublin, for example, should be of much benefit.
Not all local authorities are keen on milk.
The children are keen on it.
All those Deputies asking the questions are members of local authorities though that may not be the position in a month or two.
Is that a threat or a promise?