asked the Minister for Agriculture whether he is aware that the farmers of Kilworth, County Cork, have been endeavouring to get a branch creamery of the Mitchelstown Co-operative Society erected in their parish for their convenience; that the farmers of the parish have to take their milk as far as five miles to the existing branch creameries; that the milk available for such a branch would be that of 900 cows and that the Mitchelstown Committee are demanding £12,000 before they will undertake the establishment of such a branch, and if he will have an inspector sent to inquire and report on the project.

My information is that some persons interested in the establishment of a cream separating station at Kilworth interviewed the manager of Mitchelstown Co-operative Creamery and were informed that the Mitchelstown Society would give the matter consideration if a sufficient number of farmers in the Kilworth district agreed to subscribe three £1 shares per cow. I understand also that the farmers concerned were to discuss the matter further with the Mitchelstown Committee but that they have not done so up to the present.

I am not aware that the Mitchelstown Society are demanding £12,000 before they would undertake the establishment of a branch creamery. The usual arrangement is that farmers desiring creamery facilities take shares to cover the cost of the necessary buildings and equipment which, in the case of a separating station such as is proposed at Kilworth, would amount to about one-tenth of the sum mentioned.

I do not think any useful purpose would be served by sending an inspector from my Department to inquire into and report on the project as I have no power to compel a creamery society to extend its operations. The matter is one for arrangement between the farmers concerned and Mitchelstown Society.

I should like to mention, Sir, that the amount of £12,000 mentioned there is wrong, and that it should be £1,200.

I shall note that.