asked the Minister for Agriculture if he will state the date from which the system of travelling creameries commenced to operate in South and West Kerry; the circumstances which gave rise to its introduction; and, further, the success or otherwise of the scheme.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Travelling Creameries (South and West Kerry).
Travelling creameries were put into commission for the first time in this country in the year 1934, the area of operation being the Dingle peninsula. In 1937 the travelling creamery system was extended to the Rathmore area; in 1938 to the Cahirciveen, Kenmare and Castletownbere districts and in 1939 to the Castlemaine creamery district.
In the seasons 1933 and 1934 the price of non-creamery butter fell to an abnormally low level in the Dingle peninsula and this, in combination with the low value of store cattle then prevailing, made dairying an uneconomic proposition. The question of introducing the creamery system of butter-making to the peninsula had been under consideration for some time, and with this object, the Dairy Disposal Company in 1934 purchased premises at Dingle and Stradbally where non-creamery butter had previously been manufactured. The Dingle premises were converted into a central creamery. In the first instance, however, it was decided not to build separating stations, but to test the milk supplies available and to gain information as to the most suitable location of cream-separating stations by the operation of motor vehicles suitably equipped for the collection and separation of milk, which have since become known as "travelling creameries". It was eventually found possible to erect seven new separating stations at suitable points and the travelling creameries were in course of time withdrawn. In the other areas, travelling creameries were provided in order to test the extent of the milk supplies available for the manufacture of creamery butter, and to make creamery facilities available in widely scattered areas in which there was not a sufficient concentration of milk to justify the erection of the usual cream-separating stations.
The travelling creamery system has been a complete success and has played an important part in the organisation of the creamery industry in County Kerry and elsewhere by serving to demonstrate the areas in which the erection of cream-separating stations would be practicable, and by bringing creamery facilities to areas which would not otherwise have been served by creameries.
Is the Minister in a position to state, from Departmental records at his disposal, whether the establishment of these travelling creameries was in some measure due to representations made by me from time to time during the régime of the former Government, and if he will have these records made available to me?
I can assure the Deputy that his exertions in this matter present a record in the Department amounting almost to the persecution of the Department, the details of which, on request, I shall be prepared to provide for the Deputy. I use the word "persecution" from the point of view of a long-suffering Minister; from the point of view of the people on behalf of whom the representations were made, I have no doubt a more appropriate term will be found.
Is the Minister aware that Deputy Dr. Ryan went to Kerry recently and stated that I had neither directly nor indirectly made representations? Is he aware that in making that statement Deputy Dr. Ryan stated a lie, knowing it was a lie?
The Minister is not responsible for Deputy Ryan's statement.
Everyone in Kerry, certainly everyone in my constituency, knows that I am working and have always worked for the people there. He tried to get away with it, but I am here to challenge him.
It has nothing to do with the question.
He made that statement behind closed doors.