asked the Minister for Agriculture whether he is aware that creamery management boards find it economically impracticable to provide creamery facilities for islands around the coast; and, if so, if he will consider providing a subsidy on butter produced on island holdings to enable such farmers to obtain for this product the normal prices prevailing in areas where such creamery facilities are available.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Butter Production on Islands.
The answer to the first part of the question is "Yes" and to the second part "No".
Does the Minister not consider that it is a justifiable claim on the part of these island people who are denied creamery facilities that they should get a subsidy on their butter to bring it up to the price obtainable where there are such creamery facilities?
There is quite a number of areas, backward and otherwise, in which there are not creamery facilities and, of course, these areas also could claim the facilities the provision of which the Deputy is urging for the people on these islands.
I take it the Minister is aware that dairying is not carried on extensively in some parts of the country but that in areas where it is carried on extensively, such as the constituency that I represent, for the people who are unable to transport their milk to the creameries the State should provide a subsidy, and, as a matter of fact, the State is providing a subsidy on every gallon of milk supplied to creameries.
That is not a question, of course.
I ask the Ceann Comhairle, then, to allow me to raise this important question on the Adjournment.
I shall communicate with the Deputy later.
Is the Deputy speaking for someone not in this House?
No more sentimental nonsense.