asked the Minister for Agriculture if he will state (a) the number of cwts. of butter produced in creameries in 1946 and 1947 respectively; (b) the rate of subsidy per cwt. paid thereon; (c) the number of cwts. of home-made butter purchased by registered buyers in 1947 and the rate of subsidy paid thereon, and (d) the total amount of subsidy paid on creamery and home-made butter respectively.

As the reply contains a good deal of statistical information, I propose, a Chinn Chomhairle, with your permission, to have the answer circulated in the Official Reports.

The answer is as follows:—

(b) Allowances paid to creameries on butter production:—

(c) (i) Quantity of farm butter purchased by registered butter factories and non-manufacturing exporters in 1947: 43,064 cwt.

(ii) An allowance of 4/8 per cwt. was payable by the Department to butter factories and non-manufacturing exporters on farm butter purchases during the months January to March, 1947. For the remainder of the year an allowance of 104/6 per cwt. was paid to registered butter factories on non-creamery butter suitable for household use which was sold to the Butter Marketing Committee.

(d) Allowances paid on creamery and non-creamery butter.