asked the Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries if he will consider delaying the final arrangements between the Dairy Disposal Company and Roinn na Gaeltachta for the establishment of powder milk factories at Ballyferriter, County Kerry, until milk suppliers in each area can decide the amount of share capital they wish to have in the project.

61.

asked the Minister for Agriculture and Fisheres if, in relation to the proposals of the Dairy Disposal Company and Roinn na Gaeltachta for the establishment of powder milk factories at Ballyferriter, County Kerry, he will afford milk suppliers in each area an opportunity to decide what amount of share capital they wish to have in these factories.

With your permission, a Cheann Comhairle, I propose to take Questions Nos. 60 and 61 together.

A proposal for the establishment of a milk processing factory at Ballyferriter was recently submitted to my Department by the Dairy Disposal Company and I shall convey a decision on it to the company as soon as possible. The question of the holding of share capital in the proposed enterprise can best be dealt with in the context of the possible acquisition by local milk suppliers of the company's creamery interest in the area.

Is the Minister aware that there is grave dissatisfaction among local farmers that they were not consulted about this project? They wish to participate in this takeover of the Dairy Disposal Board and will he make an effort to see that they will get a chance to do so?

There are two important considerations to be borne in mind in this connection. One is that, as I have already indicated, where local interests wish to take over the assets of the Dairy Disposal operations in particular areas and provided that the operations that the Dairy Disposal Company has been carrying on can be carried on by them as effectively or more effectively, these arrangements can always be reached. The second thing is that there is a need now in this area for a diversification plant and any delay would militate against the milk suppliers in the area