asked the Minister for Agriculture if he is aware that the number of creamery milk suppliers has fallen from 112,000 in 1969 to 74,000 this year; and if he has any proposals to reverse this trend.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Creamery Milk Supplies.
17.
While the number of creamery milk suppliers fell during the period mentioned, total cow numbers have increased significantly and total deliveries of milk to creameries have increased by about 60 per cent. In 1977 deliveries in fact increased by as much as 9 per cent. The estimated increase this year is about 14 per cent. These increases show clearly that farmers generally are aware of the profitability of milk production at current prices.
It is the almost contradictory situation that prompts me to put down this Question and to ask this supplementary question about fewer milk producers providing much more milk. Does this not indicate that there has been a complete failure to utilise the improving and increasingly remunerative milk market and its products, which the EEC have brought about, to the benefit and expansion of small creamery milk suppliers? Instead we are making the big ones bigger and wiping out the small ones. This is a tragedy. The drop in numbers is drastic and yet——
A question, Deputy.
I do not think the EEC would contemplate or tolerate a graded or tiered price, and that is what Deputy Blaney seems to be suggesting. If that were introduced the perpetuation of inefficient producers regardless of their acreage would be guaranteed. I do not think that is justified in modern circumstances.
(Cavan-Monaghan): Is the Minister aware of a suggestion in today's Irish Press that it is proposed to impose a levy of over 3p per gallon on milk with the object of depressing milk production? Would he agree that that would spell disaster for parts of this country, such as my constituency of Cavan and Monaghan, where the whole agricultural economy depends on milk production? Will he take steps to fight tooth and nail to ensure that no such proposal materialises?
The Deputy will be aware that an over-production levy was imposed by the EEC for a couple of years and it was much more grievious than the Deputy suggests. Did he say 3p?
(Cavan-Monaghan): I am drawing the Minister's attention to what appears in today's Irish Press.
I have not seen the press report in question. I would be opposed in principle to the imposition of a production tax on milk. The Deputy must remember that there is a serious over-supply situation in Europe as a whole.
(Cavan-Monaghan): Surely that is a matter for regionalisation in this country. Will the Minister agree that there are parts of the country where the agricultural people depend entirely on milk products? The district of Monaghan-Cavan is one of those. The proposal is to increase the levy to 3.5p.
It will have a hard passage.
(Cavan-Monaghan): If I may regard that as a commitment from the Minister to fight it tooth and nail I will be satisfied.
Yes, I would be opposed to an imposition of that dimension on the Irish milk industry.
Has the Minister investigated or will he investigate whether within the framework of the EEC, within which he must work, there is the possibility, without in any way running counter to the EEC regulations, of introducing some method whereby small farmers will not continue to go out of milk while the bigger ones get bigger? The reason for this and for the alarming decline in the numbers in recent years is not inefficiency. Small farmers in the modern trend are not in a position——
Deputy, please.
——to obtain the capital to provide milking parlours, coolers and so on.
This is a speech.
It is there that the tragedy is happening and the milk product which would be particularly suitable for the small man is not being utilised for his benefit but rather to his detriment.
The remaining questions will appear on tomorrow's Order Paper.
With your permission, a Cheann Comhairle, could I get a written reply to Question No. 198?
Yes.