asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if he will state what is the extra amount of turf over and above normal turf needs required yearly to meet the estimated deficiency of imported coal used for domestic purposes, and over what period of the year must such extra turf be cut and saved; if from the steps so far taken and the plans so far proposed he is in a position to estimate what percentage of the extra turf requirement will in fact be cut and saved; if other than the issue of a letter of exhortation to parish councils anything has been done by the Government to meet the emergency; if he can estimate how far the co-operation of parish councils is likely to produce the results required; and if any plan other than or supplemental to the parish council appeal has been proposed, and, if so, when such other plan will be revealed and put into operation.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Supplies of Turf.
No forecast can be given of the extent of the probable deficiency of imported coal during the coming year and no estimate, therefore, can be given at the moment as to the extent to which extra turf can be cut and saved to meet the deficiency of imported coal used for domestic purposes. The extra turf can only be cut during the normal turf-cutting season which, dependent on weather conditions, extends from March to August.
By Emergency Powers Order authority has been given to local authorities to acquire turf banks by agreement or compulsorily and with a further power:—
(a) to exercise turbary rights over the turf banks so acquired, and
(b) to let the bogs so acquired to any person for the purpose of cutting and saving turf for sale or otherwise.
Simultaneously arrangements have been made with the Land Commission and the Turf Development Board to make available for the latter purpose during the coming season, at low rents, turf banks in their possession. The Turf Development Board is likewise taking steps to secure the maximum output of turf from the bogs under its control using for the purpose both mechanical and hand-cutting methods.
Local authorities in turf-producing areas and areas where turf is otherwise procurable are taking steps not only to meet their own requirements but to supplement supplies which are likely to be made available by private producers. Furthermore, in counties where the conditions permit large-scale schemes of turf production, founded on the use of those staffs and organisation of the county surveyors, are being put into operation. In one case at least contracts have been offered by the local authority to all turf cutters to take all the turf they are prepared to produce at terms stated. Similar schemes are in contemplation elsewhere. There is every reason to believe that this action by the local authorities will prove effective in increasing substantially future turf supplies.
So far as parish councils are concerned, approaches have been made, both by circular letter and otherwise, urging each council, particularly in turf-cutting areas, to ensure that sufficient turf will be available for the requirements of the parish during next winter. The duty has been laid on the councils of securing that every cutter in the parish was employed, that every face bank was utilised, and that at least two crops were cut from every face bank this season. Generally, it was conveyed to parish councils that they would be expected to focus local effort on increased turf production and bring home, in whatever way the council thought best, the necessity for each parish in or near bog areas to harness individual and local effort generally.
In order to remove any doubts from the minds of turf cutters that a situation might arise later in the season that their surplus turf might not be purchased, assurance has been publicly given and widely announced by advertisement and otherwise that the Government ensure a market for all surplus turf of good quality offered for sale. This should remove any fear on the part of turf cutters that their product might not be disposed of. Coal merchants and factory owners throughout certain parts of the country have been approached individually with an intimation that a serious shortage of imported fuel is anticipated and that, in consequence, each merchant and each factory owner should contract with turf cutters in their locality to cut sufficient fuel to meet their requirements. Factory owners have been urged to make immediately such constructional alterations as may be required to adapt their furnaces to the burning of turf.
My statement should indicate that every effort which could be made by the Central Government to meet the anticipated fuel shortage has been made. The issue of exercising the powers given rests with the local authorities. The responsibility of each parish, as well as of each coal merchant and factory owner, has been made quite clear. An assured market has been given to each turf cutter. I must repeat, however, that the results of our effort will depend to a very large extent on local effort and the cooperation and initiative of all those affected in the turf-cutting districts. I feel confident that we can rely on them.
I should like to ask the Minister if he has included in his plan supplying the people who are cutting the turf with some alternative to tea. They cannot live on bread and water.
Will the Minister say whether county surveyors have been equipped with the necessary funds speedily to undertake the work of constructing roads and improving drainage in these bog areas?
Wherever we are satisfied that roads or any other supplementary works are required.
Will that apply to what is known as privately-owned bogs? A case was brought under my notice within the last couple of days of a bog where 400 tons have already been cut and where 500 tons are to be saved this year. A road half a mile long is required there which the owner cannot afford to make.
It will depend to some extent on the size of the bog. If the potential supply is sufficient to justify it, a proposal of that sort will be sympathetically considered, but I cannot pledge myself in advance to every proposal.
In view of the importance of transport in relation to turf production—the amount of turf which is going to be produced will, I submit, depend very largely on whether the turf-cutters are satisfied in regard to the transport of it—has the Minister's Department made any representations to the Great Southern Railways Company, to the other railway companies and the canal companies for a preferential rate for turf carried over their systems? Further, is the Minister in a position to give any indication as to what amount of the road transport will be available for the distribution of the turf? I am sure the Minister will appreciate that bog owners and turf cutters are not going to cut large quantities of turf if they feel that it is going to be left on their hands, because of the lack of transport.
I think the assurance which the Government has given, that it will purchase all surplus turf, should be sufficient to cover the question of transport. I can assure the Deputy that the question of the transport of turf is being exhaustively examined.
I wonder does the Minister appreciate that the Government's guarantee is so worded in the advertisements that turf cutters are understood to be drawing the meaning from it, that the turf will be bought from them if they can place it on the market.
Would the Minister say whether county surveyors will have to get departmental sanction for any road or drainage schemes initiated, or will they be given a wide discretion themselves to carry out these schemes?
If they want public money they will have to apply to the usual sources for it. In this case they will have to apply to the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Finance.
If the people in the Rosses in Donegal cut turf to the limit of their capacity, will the Minister guarantee that this turf will be sold?
If it is of acceptable quality.
If the quality of the turf is good, the Minister will guarantee that it will be sold? There is a peculiar transport problem in the Rosses. There is no railway, so that the turf cut there must be brought out to Donegal and then taken to Sligo. If it is, will it be sold?
It will.
Will the Minister have the question examined of giving county surveyors wide powers to undertake road-making and drainage works where they are satisfied that these are necessary for the full exploitation of bogs? My fear is that if county surveyors have to get sanction in each case it will be next September before anything is done, and in the case of many bogs people will not be in a position to go into them to get turf.
Wide powers have already been given to the local authorities. It has been conveyed to them that they can delegate these powers to the county surveyors.
A county surveyor cannot make a road or undertake a drainage scheme without money.
I have already indicated that, where the circumstances seem to warrant it, the necessary finances will not be any obstacle.
In the County Cork, an essential area for turf, there are 23 deputy surveyors, but in Cork there are only four turf-producing areas. If the four deputy surveyors produce all the turf required for Cork county alone, then by the time those requirements have been satisfied there will be no turf available for anybody else. Is the Minister aware that if the county council produce all the turf they need for their own purpose: for the boards of health, the mental hospital and all the other institutions under their control, they will not have any turf left for sale?
That may be so in the case of the County Cork, but here we are dealing with the country generally. As far as the country generally is concerned, there will certainly be much more turf available than would supply the requirements of local authorities only.
If the Minister examines the situation in any county that is a turf-producing area, he will find that by the time the requirements of the county council and of the various public institutions under its control are satisfied, there will not be any turf available to offer for sale to the public.
In many counties, at any rate, we are satisfied that they can produce a substantial surplus.