asked the Minister for Agriculture the steps that have been taken to ensure that the quality of milk supplied to national schools throughout the country is of the same standard as approved by his Department.
Ceisteanna—Question. Oral Answers. - Schools Milk Supply.
2.
Milk supplied under the school milk scheme must comply with the standards prescribed for liquid milk generally under the Milk and Dairies Acts. These standards are monitored regularly by officials of my Department and of local authorities and where irregularities are detected the matter is taken up with the suppliers. In addition, claims for subsidy under the liquid milk or the school milk schemes are liable to be reduced or disallowed where "added water" has been found in the milk.
Is the Minister aware that in County Galway last year it was found that milk supplied to national schools under the EEC school milk scheme was found to be adulterated with levels of water varying from 1 to 35 per cent? This was the result of at least nine samples taken in a five-month period. What steps were taken against the company supplying the milk to the schools concerned?
I am aware of the situation as outlined by the Deputy. It is a situation that must give rise to considerable public concern. Under the Milk and Dairies Acts the primary penalty which can be imposed on a supplier found to have contravened the regulations is the withdrawal of the subsidy paid in respect of supplies. However, that seems to be an entirely inadequate penalty. I will be examining the Acts in question with a view to ascertaining whether a penalty in line with the gravity of the offence can be introduced. It would be my intention to seek an amendment to the existing legislation in order to ensure that the penalty first the offence in question.
I am delighted to hear of the Minister's concern on this issue and to be assured that he is examining the situation.
Has the Deputy a question?
Since the penalty is so light in respect of a crime of the type we are talking of, I appeal to the Minister to ensure that any breach of the law in this connection is treated with the contempt it deserves. Would the Department ensure in future that tests are carried out at regular intervals on milk supplied to all schools in the country under the terms of this scheme?
The Deputy may be assured that I will be requesting that regular testing be carried out consequent on the scale of the irregularities that have been highlighted in the analyst's report.
Would the Minister not agree that the standards generally in respect of liquid milk are much less rigorous than in the case of manufactured milk and that it is about time the liquid milk section was brought within the control of the dairy produce inspectorate rather than of the veterinary section of the Department?
That is an interesting observation to which I shall give consideration. I might point out that the withdrawal of the subsidy can mean as much as £10,000 for a supplier but perhaps the sting in terms of the penalty would be to bring such offences to the notice of the public by way of public prosecution in court. Under the existing Act this would not seem to be possible.
The Department have no standards under which to prosecute.
The Deputy's observations will be taken note of.
Has the Minister considered that this is not simply a case of selling milk which has been adulterated but of selling water which is supposed to be milk? It is a case of fraud. Can the Minister not consider taking prosecutions under other legislation? This is an EEC scheme and we should be seen to protect the finances of the EEC as if they were the finances of our own Government.
I fully agree. I have asked my Department to see if prosecutions can be brought under some other Act. The Milk and Dairies Acts do not provide for such prosecutions to take place. They are concerned with matters of hygiene and watering of milk does not come within the ambit of hygiene.
(Limerick West): Is the Minister satisfied that monitoring is strict enough under existing regulations? Is it the intention to amend the Acts and, if so, how soon is it proposed to do it?
That would be up to the draftsman within my Department but any steps necessary to rectify this unsatisfactory position will be taken as quickly as possible.
Deputy Naughten mentioned Galway. Has it been brought to the notice of the Minister that irregularities have occurred in any other county?
It has not, but as a result of these occurrences I will be looking at the national pattern.
Is the Minister satisfied that the quantity of milk supplied to schools is on target?
That is a separate question.
Yes, but I take this opportunity to raise the matter.
I will look at all aspects of this scheme.
A lot more milk could be sold to schools than at present and it is important that milk be sold at home rather than incentives be given to farmers to stop producing milk.