asked the Taoiseach if he will state the amount of creamery butter produced in the country during the months of January, February and March, 1951, and the amount produced during the corresponding period in 1950.

The quantities of creamery butter produced in each of the months January, February and March, 1951 amounted to 7,037, 6,680 and 16,151 cwt. respectively. The quantities produced in the corresponding months of 1950 were 10,289, 10,732 and 23,384 cwt. respectively.

asked the Taoiseach if he will state the total quantity of creamery butter produced in the Republic from the 1st November, 1950, to the 31st March, 1951, and the figures, if available, for production during April, 1951, with comparative figures for each of the years 1949 and 1950.

The total quantity of creamery butter produced in the period 1st November, 1950, to 31st March, 1951, was 80,040 cwt. In the periods 1st November, 1948, to 31st March, 1949, and 1st November, 1949, to 31st March, 1950, the quantities produced were 93,761 and 110,917 cwt. respectively. Figures for April, 1951, are not yet available, but the quantities produced in the month of April in each of the years 1949 and 1950 were 37,544 and 44,277 cwt. respectively.

asked the Taoiseach if he will state the total quantity of creamery butter imported since the 1st November, 1950, to date, the countries from which it was imported and the price per cwt. paid to each.

The total quantity of butter imported from the 1st November, 1950, to the 31st March, 1951, was 60,198 cwt. Of this, 20,017 cwt. originated in Denmark and 40,181 cwt. originated in New Zealand. The average c.i.f. prices paid per cwt. were £18 14s. 6d. and £18 16s. 0d., respectively.