asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if he will state whether he is aware that the Turf Development Board are refusing to deliver their turf brought by rail to Dublin to any of their previous customers except certain selected coal merchants; and if he will state what is the reason for this procedure, and whether he has issued any order in the matter; and if he is aware that distributors who previously bought large quantities of turf from the board and transported it by lorry to Dublin, who are now unable through lack of petrol so to transport it, are thus prevented getting turf from the board, with a consequent injury to their business, and hardship to their retail customers; and if he will state what steps he proposes to take to help distributors who are so affected to get their usual supplies.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Distribution of Turf.
Owing to difficulties in the coal position the Department of Supplies have requested the Turf Development Board to make available from their bogs at Clonsast a quantity of turf per day to Dublin coal merchants to supplement supplies of coal which were particularly low a short time ago. In consequence some of the previous customers of the board may not be receiving the full amount of their orders or indeed their normal supplies. The Deputy will agree it is essential to use supplies of fuel in the manner best calculated to meet the needs of the present situation and this may, at times, involve a diversion of normal trade. I am having inquiries made with a view to seeing whether any change in the arrangements is now desirable.
Can the Minister offer any reason why, in present circumstances, the smaller men who serve some of the poorer areas in the city should be crushed out in this way, and supplies of turf, which are really controllable by the Government, distributed only to those firms who are in the best position and have the strength to withstand any strain brought about by the present situation?
Such as the bellmen.
The Deputy must be seriously misinformed in regard to this matter because a very large part of the turf supplies diverted in this way were diverted in order to provide supplies for bellmen.
Is the Minister not aware that the smaller distributors in the City of Dublin are being crushed out because the turf available and controllable by the Government is being distributed to the big men?
I am aware that a very large part of this turf was diverted to the coal merchants in order to enable them to meet the requirements of the bellmen, and I do not appreciate that there is—to use the Deputy's phrase—a smaller category of distributors than the bellmen.
Apparently the Minister does not appreciate quite a number of things.