asked the Minister for Lands and Agriculture if he will state whether it is a fact that suppliers to the Baltimore Creamery, County Tipperary, have to travel a distance of five (5) miles and over with their milk; and what steps does he intend taking to give more reasonable facilities to those people.
ORAL ANSWERS. - BALTIMORE (CO. TIPPERARY) CREAMERY FACILITIES.
I presume it is the Galteemore Creamery to which the Deputy refers. I understand that owing to the necessary closing of that Creamery for economic reasons through shortage of milk supplies, some of the suppliers have now to travel over a mile further to another Creamery, while, on the contrary, other suppliers have now a shorter distance to travel than formerly. It is not feasible to take action in the direction suggested in the concluding portion of the question.
Owing to the closing down of this creamery the people have to travel five or six miles to other creameries. Is the Minister aware of that hardship on the poor people of the district, as they can now get no supply of milk? What steps is the Minister going to take to remove that hardship?
Mr. HOGAN
The creamery that closed was known as the Galteemore Creamery. I understand it closed last May. It was not closed by any action that the Government took in connection with the purchase of the Condensed Milk Company. It was closed because it could not get a sufficient milk supply. It was only getting about 1,000 gallons. I dare say the closing of the creamery was to some extent decided upon because another creamery was situate within 1½ miles distance. No suppliers therefore have to go more than 1½ miles further than they went before, and some of the suppliers are obviously going very much shorter distances.
Does the Minister know that there is no creamery between Bansha and Galbally, a distance of 11 miles?
Mr. HOGAN
The other creamery is at Dungrud, which is only 1½ miles from Galteemore.