asked the Minister for Lands and Agriculture if a petition has been received from the farmers asking to have a creamery erected in the Dowra district. County Leitrim; whether the farmers were informed by officials from the Department that a loan for the erection of a creamery would be forthcoming if 1,200 shares were secured in the district, and that now, when 1,371 shares are collected, the Society were informed the loan could not be granted unless 1,600 shares were secured, and if it is the intention of the Department to grant the loan, on what terms and when.
CEISTEANNA—QUESTIONS. ORAL ANSWERS. - LOAN FOR ERECTION OF CREAMERY.
No petition of the nature referred to has been received by the Department, nor have the Department any knowledge of the alleged statements referred to in the second portion of the question. The organisation of co-operative creameries is a matter for the Irish Agricultural Organisation Society, which body deals with the question of share capital and other matters incidental to the forming of a society. In connection with the concluding portion of the question, I may add that a loan not exceeding 75 per cent. of the cost for the erection of a creamery may be granted by the Department to a Co-operative Society affiliated to the Irish Agricultural Organisation Society, provided, amongst other conditions, that the amount of share capital subscribed equals the proposed expenditure. If and when an application is received concerning a scheme at Dowra it will be considered.
My information is that the officials and engineers from the Department gave these undertakings two years ago.
Mr. HOGAN
There was no question of an undertaking. The real point is what sum of money will cover the cost of the creamery, and no undertakings will make any difference. That is a point that can be discovered accurately.
Have any of your officials been there in connection with this matter?
Mr. HOGAN
I do not think so. I think it was entirely the I.A.O.S. officials. It is quite possible that the County Instructor took an interest in the scheme, but I have no information. The actual organising of a creamery is always a matter for the officials of the I.A.O.S.