asked the Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries if he is taking steps to deal with the difficulties arising from surplus milk in the Dublin District Supply Area.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Surplus Milk.
5.
The Dublin District Milk Board has this year, as in previous years, purchased all milk supplies offered by registered producers surplus to the liquid trade requirements.
The quantity of surplus milk offered by these producers during the summer months has now increased to such an extent that the licensed pasteurisers who collect the surplus milk on behalf of the Board have advised the Board that they will be unable to continue the present collection arrangements after the present season. The making of alternative arrangements is at present under consideration by the Board.
It is under consideration by the Board. Does the Minister for Agriculture accept that as discharging his responsibility? Does he not think that this is a matter of great urgency, and that the entire farming community that could and would produce milk in the Dublin district milk supply area are prevented from doing so, and discouraged from doing so, because there is no outlet for it?
The Deputy will be aware that the Minister is involving himself in this and is certainly examining the position from his aspect. He would, quite naturally, value the considered opinion of the Board and I think this is in accordance with normal laid-down practice.
Is the Parliamentary Secretary further aware that I received a letter this morning from the owner of a Land Commission holding and that in the past two days 50 gallons of milk were returned to him? He explained that he went to the expense of buying a cooler and he does the job in the best way it is possible to do it. This is a serious consideration and one which the Minister for Agriculture should examine.
I am not aware that the Deputy received such a letter.
Is the Parliamentary Secretary aware that it has been the general thing now for a certain creamery to return a substantial amount of milk in the Dublin district milk supply area over the past couple of weeks because there is a surplus and this is the way of dealing with it in the Department?
Would the Parliamentary Secretary not agree that ad interim, while the Minister is considering the problem with a view to the long-term future, some special arrangement ought to be made to prevent milk being returned to the farmers while the matter is being fully examined and a permanent solution to the problem arrived at?
This is a very complex question——
I know it is complex.
——and it would be impossible at this stage to formulate instant solutions to the problem.
If you sit tight for a couple of months, it will settle itself.
That is not so.
Would the Parliamentary Secretary ask the Minister for Agriculture before the Dáil goes into recess in the next month or the month after——
There will be plenty of time.
——for an assurance that there will be an outlet for any quantity of milk produced in the Dublin district milk supply area from the beginning of next year?
The Deputy can be assured that I will convey his comments to the Minister.