§ Mr. SHEEHANasked the Vice-President of the Department of Agriculture (Ireland) whether the appointments to the position of dairy instructor are temporary or permanent; are they in the nature of civil service appointments; do they carry any pensions or retiring allowances; how many persons at present occupy these positions, and how are their services distributed through the several provinces; what amount is included in the Estimates of his Department annually in respect of these services; to what special branches of the dairy industry are their duties directed; and to what extent are they availed of by the creameries of the country?
§ Mr. T. W. RUSSELLThe appointments referred to in the question are made by the Department, and are terminable by three months' notice on either side. They are not in the nature of per- 1030 manent Civil Service appointments. The number of instructors in dairying at present employed by the Department is seven, and of these three are stationed in districts comprising the southern portion of the country. Their duties consist principally in visiting creameries situated within their respective districts, and affording technical advice and assistance to the proprietors and managers, but they are also required to carry out such other duties as the Department may from time to time direct in connection with the work of dairying generally. Since 1st January last 553 visits were made by the instructors to 346 creameries and auxiliaries. No sum is included in the Estimates of the Department in respect of these instructors. They are paid from the Endowment Fund administered with the concurrence of the Agricultural Board in connection with the general scheme for improvement in the management of creameries. Their salaries are at the rate of £150 to £225 a year.