asked the Minister for Agriculture if, as County Kerry has been declared a tuberculosis eradication area, he will state in detail the steps being taken by the co-operative and Dairy Disposal Board creameries in the county to install pasteurisation plants in their premises, the progress made in that direction, the efforts, if any, which are being made to install such plants in the board's travelling creameries and the stage reached in regard to the plans envisaged.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Kerry Pasteurisation Plant.
I have been informed by the Dairy Disposal Company that plants for the pasteurisation of separated milk at 48 of their 50 creamery premises in County Kerry have either been installed or will be installed shortly and that plants for the remaining two premises will be provided as soon as possible. According to the latest information available in my Department, pasteurising plants have been installed at two of the 12 co-operative creamery premises in the county. Plants for pasteurising separated milk must be installed at all creamery premises not later than 30th April, 1959, and pending such installation separated milk must be rendered safe by steam injection.
As regards the pasteurisation of separated milk on travelling creameries, I would refer the Deputy to my reply to a similar question on 5th March.