asked the Minister for Agriculture if, further to a previous reply on the subject of a possible subsidy for island milk producers, he has yet reached a decision on this matter.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Island Milk Producers.
42.
I have not yet completed my examination of this matter.
Would the Parliamentary Secretary tell me why it is so difficult to complete his examination of this matter? I first raised this matter several years ago and surely it is not impossible that a decision could be reached by now? I think it is obvious why it has not been reached. Will the Parliamentary Secretary state when a decision will be made? It is now moving into the peak period of the milk season and it is very important that a decision be made at once.
The Deputy will appreciate while this would appear to be a reasonably simple question, the fact is that we have so many islands of this nature around the coast that it cannot be looked on as being a simple case of trying to fix a subsidy for individual islands.
This question is a national one. I did not ask for a subsidy for any special island.
An offer has been made with regard to the provision of a subsidy for the transport of milk from those islands to the creameries on the mainland which is reasonably adjacent to them. It would appear that that offer, from the point of view of the various interested islanders, does not meet their desires or is not far-reaching enough. The Minister is at present considering whether he can evolve a scheme for subsidisation.
Would the Parliamentary Secretary not agree, in regard to the islands of Cape Clear and Sherkin, that it would be completely uneconomic to transfer milk from those islands to the creameries on the mainland? It would be much preferable to all concerned if a subsidy were paid to butter producers on the islands.
That is a matter which is engaging the attention of the Minister.
We will have an answer soon.
I shall be addressing another question to the Minister in about three weeks' time.