asked the Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries if certain creameries are having difficulty in disposing of surplus milk supplies; if so, if he can state the reason for and the extent of the difficulty; and what steps his Department have taken or propose to take to deal with the matter.

I am not aware that creameries are having difficulty in disposing of surplus milk supplies but I understand that a few creameries are experiencing difficulty in disposing of surplus skim. This surplus is due primarily to the substantial increase in milk deliveries to creameries and to the growing tendency for suppliers to offer increased supplies of skim to the creameries. The existing milk powder plants, some of which have been enlarged recently, are operating at full capacity and projects for some new plants are at various stages of planning. These projects are being given every assistance possible by my Department.

In addition to the outlet for skim which is now provided by the milk powder plants, milk suppliers can of course utilise the skim economically for feeding calves and pigs.

What about the calves taken home from Bantry fair?

I will take them if you have them. Indeed this traditional outlet accounts for the vast bulk of the skim milk supply.

Surely the Minister is aware that certain creameries are dumping skim milk down the drain? What action does he propose in that regard? Instead of getting an increase of 2d, many of them cannot get the 4d for their skim milk. Surely he realises that with present prices for pigs and calves, it is not an economic proposition to feed them even skim milk?

It is very strange but I know a few very successful pig feeders who are actually buying skim from other people to feed their pigs.

Is the Minister aware that certain creameries today are pouring skim milk down the drain, that the farmers will not take it back? Is that true or false?

That is not the question at all. I have already said that they have had traditional outlets which, for reasons best known to themselves, they have not been taking up in the recent past and they are desirous that the entire whole milk be taken, including the skim. Due to these factors, plus the fact that we have an increase in milk year by year to record proportions, our plants are not at the moment capable of taking all that may be offered but other plants are, in fact, on their way.

Surely the Minister realises——

Deputy T. O'Donnell.

In view of the fact that a number of creameries, to my certain knowledge, are having to pour anything from 2,000 to 3,000 gallons of milk per day down the drain, would the Minister say what steps his Department have taken or propose to take to deal with this matter which is a very serious problem and constitutes a serious drop in the dairy farmers' income?

These matters are not immediately dealt with by the Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries now or at any time in the past. If people wish to have their skim milk poured down the drain, then surely, it is a matter that they themselves could, if they wished, do something more about. If they chose to have it poured down the drain in the interim between now and the acquisition of larger capacity for treating and processing skim milk, there is not very much that can be expected to be done by you or me or anybody else in this House.

Would the Minister not agree that this problem has arisen because of the failure of the Minister's Department to anticipate the considerable increase in milk supplies this year and their failure to make arrangements to dispose of the surplus milk?

The Deputy surely is aware that practically all of the milk goes through creameries and co-ops and that most of the plants talked about at the moment are also provided and operated by these same people or associations of them. Wherein, then, does the Minister fall down in this matter of not providing an outlet for people who, first of all, are producing more milk than ever before and secondly are using less of their own skim than they have done heretofore even though there is a profitable outlet for it? Surely it is unfair to start blaming somebody else in the circumstances?

(Cavan): Is it not——

This has been sufficiently canvassed. Question No. 13.

(Cavan): Is it not a fact that the Minister has refused to grant licences for the necessary plants to deal with this milk?

He has made a right mess of agriculture.