asked the Minister for Agriculture if he will state the total amount of subsidy paid, and due to be paid, on butter in the current year, indicating separately the amounts in respect of each dairying county.

The total amount of subsidies on butter paid to creameries since 1st April, 1955, to date was £1,330,190 12s. 7d. The amount of subsidy claims received from creameries and at present in course of examination prior to payment is £142,903 9s. 11d.

As regards the latter part of the Deputy's question, the relevant records are not kept according to county. It would be a task of considerable magnitude, necessitating the examination of several thousand entries, to extract the particulars by counties, and the time and expense involved in doing so could not be justified.