HC Deb 22 March 1906 vol 154 cc588-9
MR. A. ROCHE (Cork)

To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland what has been the value of the total amount of butter produced in Ireland in the year 1905; how much of it was produced in the centrifugal factories; what financial aid has his Department given to this branch of the trade; how many of its officers are employed or engaged in furthering this work, and at what cost; and what aid, if any, financial or otherwise, has his Department given towards improving the quality of the remaining quantity of butter produced in the farmers' dairies.

(Answered by Mr. Bryce.) The value of the butter produced in Ireland in 1905 is estimated by the Department of Agriculture at 5¼ millions sterling. There are no means at present of estimating the proportion produced in centrifugal factories. Five officers of the Department are engaged in furthering the butter industry, mainly on its creamery side, namely, two in general inspection of creameries, two instructors in creamery management, and one clerk. The total cost of these officers amounts to about £1,930 per annum. Loans to the amount of £4,840 (of which £2,996 have been repaid) have been issued for the erection of Pasteurising plant in creameries. With regard to the production of butter in farmers' dairies, provision has been made during the current year (1905–6) by twenty-five county committees of agriculture for the employment of thirty itinerant instructors in butter making at a total cost of £3,530, of which the Department will contribute £2,017. Instruction in home dairying is also given at each of the following rural domestic economy schools under the Department or county schemes: Munster Institute, Dunmanway, Portumna, Loughglynn, Westport. The cost of the instruction in butter making cannot be conveniently separated from that of the other instruction in these schools. Other officers of the Department, namely, four transit inspectors one inspector for the detection of frauds, and two inspectors under the Sale of Food and Drugs Acts, are partly employed in the interests of the Irish butter industry.