asked the Minister for Local Government and Public Health whether his Department has considered the situation arising from the inability of a large number of families in country districts to harvest their turf, owing to bad weather; and the consequent scarcity of fuel, causing much suffering to poor people; and whether it is proposed to take any action to relieve the situation.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Turf Scarcity.
I have not received any representations on this subject.
Does the Minister not think that the matter is important enough for inquiry?
There are a number of matters that are important enough for inquiry, but I do not feel called upon to initiate inquiries with regard to them.
Is this one of them?
Surely.
Is it the duty of county medical officers of health to report on such matters as that?
The Deputy puts down a question with regard to an alleged shortage of turf in the country. If there is a shortage of turf in the country the people primarily responsible for drawing attention to it are those suffering from that shortage.
And their representatives.
And their representatives.
This is the voice of a considerable number of them, and yet the Minister says he has got no representation.
If the Deputy calls it making representations to the Minister for Local Government that a shortage of turf exists in the country by simply putting down a question asking if I know that it exists, I consider it very inadequate representation. If the Deputy or any other Deputy has any information at his disposal that would show that a shortage of turf in the country is likely to cause hardship to the people, without admitting that the Department of Local Government has any responsibility in the matter, I would be glad to receive statistics or other particulars about it.
Surely the Minister admits that this is a notification to him?
No.
He does not?
No.
That is rather curious. I do not know what the purpose of questions is at all.