asked the Minister for Social Welfare the progress he has made towards implementing the EEC scheme for the provision of subsidised milk products in Irish schools.

As I explained to the Dáil in the course of the adjournment debate on 6 December 1977, I do not consider the EEC scheme for the supply of milk and certain milk products at reduced prices to school children as suitable for implementation in its present form in this country.

Is the Minister not aware of the considerable financial assistance that is available from the Community for the provision of dairy products for children in Irish schools and also that the IFA and other farming bodies have urged the Government on several occasions to implement a scheme of this nature? Such a scheme, in addition to benefiting the children attending national schools, would help also the farming community. In these circumstances can the Minister give any indication as to whether he intends to implement a scheme on these lines and, if so, on what date?

I answered this——

Reluctantly and belatedly.

——fully on the occasion of a Private Members' Motion before the House during the last session.

A week late.

On that occasion I explained fully the Government's attitude with regard to this scheme and why we did not regard it as satisfactory. Since then I have given considerable additional information to the Deputy's colleague, Deputy Bruton, about the scheme.

It is a matter of kicking to touch.

That is not so. It was a simple straightforward decision that we were not prepared to operate the scheme.