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Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 5 Feb 1941

Vol. 81 No. 11

Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Price of Coal.

Mr. A. Byrne

asked the Minister for Supplies if the recent increases in the price of coal can be justified, if the increases have been sanctioned by his or any other Government Department; if, further, he will state the quantity of coal stored in Dublin, and if the increase was sanctioned for coal stored in Dublin for nearly a year.

The recent increases in coal prices were approved by me to meet increases in freights and in pit-head prices in the United Kingdom. When determining the increases to be permitted, due regard is paid to any stocks remaining in the hands of coal merchants or importers and this factor is given full weight in framing new prices from time to time. I do not know to what coal the Deputy refers in the final part of the question.

I do not think it would be in the public interest to furnish the information asked for in the third part of the question.

Mr. A. Byrne

Is the Minister aware that coal to the poor, to the unemployed and to the lowly paid worker is being sold in Dublin to-day at 6d. per stone? Is he also aware that a very large number of the people cannot afford to buy coal at that price, and, as a result are being deprived of the use of it? Has the time not arrived for him, or for some Department, to give consideration to the question of a free supply of coal to those people who are in need of it, and, in consequence, are suffering both in health and mind: that, as a result of being without coal, their children are going around in wet clothes, without meals and——

Supplementary questions must be relevant to the question on the Order Paper.

I think that matter might be considered by the Dublin Corporation.

Mr. Byrne

Has the Dublin Corporation any power to spend the ratepayers' money for such purposes, without the approval or help of the Government?

If they propose to do so, they will find out.

Mr. Byrne

Will the Government give any help in the matter? Will they give a subsidy in respect of the giving of free coal to the poor who are without it?

Is the Minister aware that coal in stock since last August is now being sold at the current price?

No. So far as the arrangements made by my Department can ensure it, that is not correct.

I wrote to the Minister's Department 14 days ago, pointing out that coal which has been in stock since August was being sold at the current price, and nothing has been done about it since.

The current price of coal is fixed having regard to the stocks available and the prices at which they were purchased.

Does that mean that coal in stock since last August can now be sold at the current price, which is 5/- to 7/6 more than the previous price?

I do not know what the Deputy means by the current price. Whenever an increase takes place in the price of coal in England, or in the cost of transporting it here, an increase in the price of coal has to be allowed, but in determining what increase should be allowed, regard is had to the stocks already in the country which were purchased at the lower price.

I am asking the Minister are coal merchants entitled to charge the prevailing price for coal which has been in stock since last August?

I have answered the Deputy's question.

The Minister has not answered it. I asked his Department and they have not told me either, after 14 days.

asked the Minister for Supplies if he will state the average price of household coal on September 1st, 1939, and also particulars of increases in price sanctioned by the Prices Commission or by his Department since the date mentioned, and whether such increases covered stocks in hand, and, if so, why.

I am not in a position to state the average price of household coal on the 1st September, 1939, in view of the large number of districts where it is sold and the varying costs between these districts due to different freights and other factors. It would involve considerable labour to compile particulars of the increases in the prices of house coals authorised by me for the various districts since the commencement of the war, but the following may be taken as typical examples of these increases:—Dublin, 22/- per ton; Cork, 26/- per ton; Sligo, 23/- per ton. In determining the increases to be permitted, due regard is paid to stocks remaining in the hands of merchants or importers, and this factor is given full weight in framing new prices from time to time.

Does the Minister consider that that is a reply to the later portion of my question?

I think I have answered the later portion.

You have? To your own satisfaction.

To the satisfaction of any reasonable person.

And they are all behind the Minister.

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