asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce whether a licence to mill flour has been granted to a new port mill to be erected in the City of Waterford; or whether it is intended to grant such licence; if he will state upon what grounds the case for the erection of this mill is based; what inquiries he has made in the area concerned, namely, in Counties Kilkenny, Carlow, Tipperary, Wexford, etc., among mill workers and mill owners in inland mills; whether representations have been made to him to the effect that the existing inland mills could, with certain comparatively small changes and expense, provide all the flour required for the area; and whether he will reconsider the whole question of the licensing of this new port mill in view of the fact that its operation will displace numbers of mill workers from their employment in the counties mentioned.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Licensing a Waterford Flour Mill.
I have given a provisional promise of a milling licence when the Agricultural Produce (Cereals) Bill, 1933, becomes law in respect of a new mill to be erected at Waterford, and it is my present intention to carry out that promise. The grounds on which the application has been considered favourably are principally the needs of that district for flour. My Department is aware of the exact position of the milling industry in the area of the Counties Kilkenny, Carlow, Tipperary and Wexford. Representations have been made in respect of one mill in the district which has been closed down for a considerable time. These representations have received careful attention and I am satisfied that the reopening of that mill could not possibly cater for the area in the manner in which the new contemplated mill could. My policy is to limit the number of flour mills so as to ensure that the output will not exceed the demand by a very considerable percentage, and under this policy I cannot see that the granting of a licence in respect of a mill at Waterford can possibly lead to the displacement of mill workers already employed in the counties named.
Is the Minister satisfied that there is a necessity for the opening of this new flour mill?
I have no intention of repeating my reply.
Does the Minister consider that the existing mills cannot supply requirements?
The quota which it is intended to allocate to the new mill is substantially less than the flour ordinarily imported through the ports in the area to be supplied by the new mill.