asked the Minister for Supplies if he will state whether, in view of the fact that it has been freely stated that an offer was made to supply this country with 50 per cent. of its pre-war petrol supply, he will state (1) if any such offer was made, (2) what percentage of our pre-war petrol supply was received last year, (3) what percentage of our pre-war supply we are receiving at the present time, and (4) the basis of the present petrol distribution; and whether in view of the fact that the present distribution is regarded as inequitable, he will reinvestigate it and change it.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Supply of Petrol.
I have been informed that it was anticipated that petrol supplies equal to about 50 per cent. of pre-war consumption would be available for this country in the near future months, but it was made quite clear that no guarantee would be given to maintain supplies on any particular level.
During the 12 months ended 30th September, 1939 (that is to say the year immediately preceding the introduction of rationing) net imports of petrol to this country were 44,292,000 gallons. In addition, Cork Harbour Oil Wharves Ltd. produced in the same year approximately 2,000,000 gallons and our industrial alcohol factories 787,000 gallons. This makes a total of over 47,000,000 gallons for the year. The corresponding figure for the year ended 31st December, 1940, was 34,083,000 gallons or 73 per cent. of the figure for the year ended 30th September, 1939.
There has been no production of home-refined spirit since early last year as no supplies of crude oil were made available for the refinery at Haulbowline and production of industrial alcohol has also ceased. The imports of petrol for the first three months of this year amounted to 3,926,000 gallons, which represented only about 34 per cent. or a quarter of our consumption in the period immediately preceding the war. Every effort has been made and is being made to obtain larger supplies, but so far without success.
For the last three months, the quantity of petrol available has not made it possible to distribute any petrol to owners of private cars with the exception of clergymen, doctors, veterinary surgeons; nurses and a limited number of officials of the Government and of local authorities. All commercial vehicles are granted an allowance equivalent to half the basic allowance granted up to the end of last year. Additional allowances are being granted to some classes of commercial vehicle owners, including public transport concerns, licensed hauliers, milk collectors and lorries used for conveying sand to building sites. Hackney vehicle owners get a graduated scale of allowances not exceeding the basic allowance of 40 gallons.
I am satisfied that, with the inadequate supplies of petrol available, the present distribution is as equitable as possible. Any system of distribution will be considered unsatisfactory by persons who receive no or insufficient supplies. The categories of vehicle-users to whom allowances are made, and the allowances in respect of each category, have been prepared after the fullest consideration of all relevant factors, and absorb the total quantity of petrol available for distribution in each month. While supplies remain inadequate no system of distribution will achieve general satisfaction.
Arising out of the Minister's reply, will he say if the Government has accepted the offer of a 50 per cent. supply of our requirements?
I do not know what the Deputy is talking about.
Are we to understand from the Minister for Supplies that there has not been such an offer?
I cannot understand how the word "offer" is used in this connection. I have been informed by the petrol companies that they expect to deliver 50 per cent. of our normal requirements in this year.
Have they not made a firm offer to the Government that they will supply 50 per cent. of our maximum requirements?
They have told me that they expect to supply 50 per cent. of our requirements. Up to date they have not done so.
Has the Government accepted their offer on their conditions?
I do not know what offer the Deputy is talking about.
The Minister is only quibbling.
Arising out of the latter part of the Minister's reply, assuming that the categories he has fixed are the best he can do with the supplies at his disposal, has he considered the desirability of reviewing the distribution within those categories? For instance, clergymen are receiving an allowance of petrol without regard to their duties. Would he consider increasing, within the clergymen's category, the allocation to a parochial priest who is doing parochial work, and possibly reducing that of a clergyman who is not engaged on parochial work? Within the doctors' category, where a doctor is a doctor to an institution, and does not normally travel outside on his duties, would he consider reducing that doctor's allocation and increasing the allocation to the doctor in a backward dispensary district so that his difficulties might be relieved? Would the Minister consider doing that, not at once, of course, but as expeditiously as circumstances would permit that review to be made?
Before he replies, might I ask the Minister, arising out of the original part of the question, if he will state when he was informed by the petrol companies that they would be prepared or that they hoped to be in a position to give us 50 per cent. of our 1939 supplies, and, further, if they stated when that delivery of the 50 per cent. would start?
I should like to ask the Minister, if he would give consideration to lorry owners who are carting sand from the seaside into the country to farmers who have no possibility of getting artificial manures in any shape or form for the production of crops of oats, wheat, turnips, mangolds and so on? There is one man in my district who has been carting sand for farmers, and has 30 or 40 orders on hands, but has not one gallon of petrol to haul the sand.
I can only say that no amount of consideration by me will increase the quantity of petrol available. The quantity of petrol distributed to lorry owners represents the maximum they can get under the present system of distribution while supplies are inadequate. In reply to Deputy Morrissey's question, speaking from recollection, I was informed some time during the month of January that the petrol companies hoped to be able to deliver 50 per cent. of our normal requirements in this year. As to when they are going to start doing so I cannot say; they have not started yet, judging by the figures I gave in the House this afternoon. With regard to Deputy Dillon's question, I may say that I am prepared to consider the reallocation of petrol amongst persons in various classes, but it is not practicable to have that reallocation made by the officers of my Department. I am not prepared to undertake myself to determine whether one clergyman should get more petrol than another, or one doctor more petrol than another. I have told the medical association that, if they themselves are prepared to redistribute amongst the members of their association the total quantity of petrol now available for doctors, I will be prepared to act on their recommendations in the issuing of licences. I think something similar might be done in relation to the churches. If any organisation of that kind, the medical association or the veterinary association, or any of the churches, are themselves prepared to consider the reallocation amongst their members of the total quantity of petrol available for all their members, then I would be very glad to discuss the matter with them.
In view of the importance of this matter, will the Minister say if he proposes to accept the suggestion made in the motion on the Paper by Deputy O'Higgins, that a Select Committee of the House be set up to investigate petrol supplies and the basis of petrol distribution?
It does not arise on this question.
Would the Minister say whether any representations have been made by him or his Department to the petrol companies since January last as to why they have not carried out what they then told him they would carry out?
There has been a very large number of such representations.
Mr. Morrissey
Would the Minister state what the reply was?
There have been numerous replies. It is not possible to deal with this matter in this particular way. The petrol companies stated that they expect to bring in half of our normal requirements in this year, but they said, as I indicated in my reply to the question, that they could not guarantee that they would bring in half of our normal supplies. The only thing which was clear from the information they gave was that they would not bring in more than half of our normal supplies. In fact, our deliveries, as stated, were only 34 per cent. of our normal requirements.
In view of the fact that the Minister has indicated to the medical fraternity that he is prepared to investigate the position with regard to the amount of petrol available for doctors, that he is prepared to accept suggestions from a group outside this House with regard to the distribution of petrol, surely it is not out of order to ask the Minister if he will agree to a suggestion——
The Chair having ruled that the matter does not arise, it must be accepted.