asked the Minister for Agriculture if he will state (a) the amount of creamery butter produced to date in the current financial year, and the amounts in respect of the corresponding period in the financial years 1953-54 and 1954-55, respectively, (b) the amount and value of exports of creamery butter in 1953, 1954 and to date in 1955, and (c) whether he has satisfied himself, in the light of the present position, that the necessity for the importation of butter supplies will not arise.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Butter Production Figures.
(a) The quantity of creamery butter produced during the period from the 1st April, 1955, to the 30th November, 1955, was 695,850 cwt. This figure is subject to final adjustment. The figures for the corresponding periods in the financial years 1954-55 and 1953-54 are 728,322 cwt. and 658,556 cwt. respectively.
(b) Exports of Irish creamery butter in 1953 amounted to 143 cwt. valued £2,946. In 1954, 55,372 cwt. of Irish creamery butter valued £1,016,653 were exported and in addition 20,900 cwt. of New Zealand butter valued £426,103, which had been imported in 1953-54 in excess of our requirements, were reexported. In the period from the 1st January, 1955, to the 31st October, 1955, 16,485 cwt. of Irish creamery butter valued £329,221 were exported.
(c) While it now appears that it may not be necessary to import butter this winter, much will depend on the maintenance of the present unusually high trend of milk production which can only be achieved if the weather conditions over the winter and early spring continue to be favourable.