§ Mr. VINCENT KENNEDYasked the Vice-President of the Department of Agriculture (Ireland) what is the total yearly revenue of the Department of Agriculture and Technical Instruction for Ireland from all sources, giving in detail the sources?
§ Mr. T. W. RUSSELLThe information asked for by the hon. Member is given in the Annual Appropriation Account, and in the Department's Annual Reports.
§ Mr. KENNEDYasked the right hon. Gentleman what is the annual amount applied by his Department for the creamery section; and what is the yearly value of the output of Irish creamery butter?
§ Mr. RUSSELLThe annual expenditure by the Department on instruction work directly relating to the creamery butter industry has been approximately £5,500. The estimated value of the total output of butter in Ireland for the twelve months ended 1st June, 1913, the latest year for which the estimate is available, was £9,201,000. It is not, however, possible to say definitely what proportion of this amount relates to creamery butter.
§ Mr. KENNEDYasked the right hon. Gentleman if he will state the names, salaries, duties, and nationality of the eight inspectors who are not under dismissal in the creamery section of his Department; will he state the names, salaries, duties, and nationality of the inspectors who are under notice of dismissal; and whether any provision is being made or has been made for them?
§ Mr. RUSSELLThe number of instructors in dairying at present employed by the Department is eight. No useful public purpose would appear to be served by publishing the names and salaries of these instructors. The Department have 169W no information as to their nationality. They were all employed in Ireland prior to entering the Department's service. Owing to the necessity for public economy, the Department has been obliged to notify two of these instructors of the termination of their engagements. Under the conditions of their employment they are not entitled to any allowance on leaving the Department's service.
§ Mr. KENNEDYasked the right hon. Gentleman whether any resolutions have been received by him protesting against the dismissal of creamery inspectors in Ireland; if so, the nature of the same and from whom received; and what is the amount of the economy contemplated likely to amount to?
§ Mr. RUSSELLThe Department have received a number of resolutions, chiefly from creamery societies and associations of creamery managers, protesting against any reduction in the staff of instructors in dairying employed by the Department. The saving to be effected in salaries, travelling expenses, etc., by the reductions in this staff will amount to about £800 per annum.