asked the Minister for Agriculture if he will state the number of auxiliary creameries purchased from the Condensed Milk Company and the Newmarket Dairy Company that have been disposed of, and the number still held by the Dairy Disposals Board; whether the milk suppliers have taken shares in the creameries still held; and, if so, why these creameries have not been handed over to the co-operative creameries or the shareholders.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Purchase of Creameries.
The total number of creameries purchased from the companies referred to was 114 (including 98 auxiliary creameries). Of these 31 have been disposed of to co-operative societies, 52 have been closed, and 31 remain on hands. Milk suppliers cannot, of course, be asked to take shares in respect of the creameries still held, as such shares must be taken in the society which ultimately takes over those creameries. The creameries in question have been held pending the completion of re-equipment and the reorganisation of groups. As this has now been, generally speaking, completed, it is the intention to hand over these creameries as soon as may be found practicable.