asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if he is aware that many local authorities allege that the British coal supplied to them subsequent to the coal-cattle agreement is inferior to the coal formerly obtainable; that the local authorities are obliged to increase their expenditure on coal considerably because of the inferior quality now available, and that they are demanding in these circumstances that the duty on British coal be removed; whether he is prepared either (a) to admit free of duty the British coal required by local authorities; (b) to insist that only good class British coal will be delivered in this country under the coal-cattle agreement; or (c) to permit the local authorities to obtain their coal requirements elsewhere than in Great Britain.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Local Authorities and British Coal
I have received only one complaint of the kind referred to by the Deputy and I understand that this particular complaint is at present under investigation by the local authority and the colliery company concerned. I may add that even if the complaint should prove to be well founded I am not satisfied that any of the suggestions put forward in the last part of the Deputy's question would be the best method of dealing with it.
Is the Minister aware that similar complaints have been made by private consumers?
No.
Is he aware that the coal imported since the 1st February has been very much inferior to the coal that was brought from the continent prior to that date, although people are compelled to pay from 10/- to 12/- per ton more for the inferior coal?
I have received only one complaint of that description and that is the complaint dealt with in the question.
I can say that the complaints are general.
Will the Minister have an inquiry made as to the inferior quality of the coal being imported since the coal-cattle pact, and into the fact that the price of that coal has been increased? Will the Minister also consider the question of allowing local authorities to purchase coal in a free market, so that they may get a better quality than they have been allowed to bring in?
I will be glad to get particulars of such complaints.
I would suggest to the Minister that he ask the Minister for Local Government what complaints have gone into that Department from the various institutions.
Only one.
Only one? There have been more than that to the Dublin County Council. There has been an increase of £2,584 in the estimate for Grangegorman, due to this alone.
Due to the inferior quality of the coal?
The complaint of inferior quality and high prices as well.