asked the Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries if, in the event of the Condensed Milk Company at Limerick being taken over by a co-operative group, he will give special consideration to the application of the Limerick Creameries Federation and the Clare Milk Suppliers.

As I have already indicated in reply to questions on 11th July, I have had discussions with the Federation of Limerick creameries supplying Lansdowne and with representatives of the Clare milk suppliers in regard to the future of the Dairy Disposal Company's properties in Limerick and Clare. I have made it clear to both groups that I will give every consideration to any proposals which they may wish to make in regard to these properties.

May I ask the Minister by whom the Clare milk suppliers were represented when he met these representatives?

That is a very difficult question to answer. They were supposed to be representative of all the producers in Clare.

The Minister would not care to give an indication of who the people were, whether they were IFA, ICMSA or who?

Both these farming organisations were represented—I think by a small number.

The reason I ask is that the Minister's predecessor was approached by a deputation from Clare consisting of all kinds of people with no connection at all with farming.

Have the Limerick Federation of Co-ops been invited to make an offer for the property?

They have.

Has one been received?

No; we are waiting.

Was any other co-operative requested to make an offer for this property?

Yes; two other co-ops.

Has any been received?

No.

There is a figure of £600,000 mentioned. Was there an offer not made by Golden Vale-Charleville?

No; no offer was made.

What valuation has the Minister placed on this property?

I am not going to go into the market place in Dáil Éireann.

The Deputy is extending the scope of the question. Question No. 121.

121.

asked the Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries if, in the event of any proposals to take over the Condensed Milk Company, Limerick, he will have full consultation with and seek the agreement of all employees directly and indirectly concerned before any proposal is finalised.

As I indicated in reply to questions on 11th July, I have already made it clear that in any plans for the future of the Lansdowne factory full regard will be had to the interests of the workers there.

Does the Minister guarantee that there will be no redundancy in the Lansdowne plant in the event of a takeover?

The Deputy knows that I have met the workers from Lansdowne.

Is the Minister not aware that over 50 per cent of the Lansdowne employees are seasonal and, therefore, he cannot guarantee that there will not be any redundancies?

I think the people concerned were very happy when they were finished discussing the matter with me.

I do not think so.

I thought the Minister said he was not too polite to them.

The Minister will hear all about it in a few weeks' time.

122.

asked the Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries if it is his intention to dissolve the Dairy Disposal Company; and, if so, when.

As I have already made clear, it is my intention to sell the Dairy Disposal Company's properties to co-operative interests. Some of these properties have already been disposed of but I cannot say when all of the company's remaining interests will be so transferred.

May I ask the Minister if he will give us some indication as to what will be the role, if any, of the Dairy Disposal Company, what will become of the money raised as a result of the sale of their assets as of now and whether he has considered setting them up as a development corporation?

I have not given any consideration to the setting up of the Dairy Disposal Company as a development organisation. The amount of money that will be realised as a result of the disposal will hardly repay what was invested. There was a lot of money invested by the Government in these concerns.