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Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 9 Jul 1941

Vol. 84 No. 10

Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Kerosene Supplies.

asked the Minister for Supplies whether it is intended to make available to hotels and boardinghouses in rural areas sufficient kerosene for lighting purposes during the holiday months of July, August and September.

Owing to the necessity of conserving sufficient kerosene supplies for harvesting operations, it has not been possible to allocate any oil for ordinary lighting purposes. I am, however, investigating the possibility of making a small allocation for hotels and boardinghouses in areas where there are no other lighting facilities.

asked the Minister for Supplies whether he is now in a position to allocate supplies of kerosene to householders in rural areas where there is no alternative form of lighting.

I am not yet in a position to allocate supplies of kerosene for household purposes owing to the necessity of conserving all available supplies for harvesting operations.

Arising out of the Minister's reply, has he, since the debate on this question, considered the urgent necessity of supplying people with at least oil for one lamp during the winter in order to avoid a large part of the rural community being left in absolute darkness from early in the afternoon until the following morning?

I hope that it will be possible to make available supplies of kerosene for domestic purposes during the winter, but it is not possible to do so during this month or next month.

Has the Minister adverted to the necessity of furnishing the individual householder with some kind of coupon which would entitle him, as of right, to get the requisite supply of kerosene from a recognised depôt?

The existing regulations permit any householder to purchase half a gallon of kerosene per month, but the difficulty in that regard arises from the fact that the distribution of kerosene to traders has not been possible and, consequently, the concession granted by the regulations is ineffective at the present time. As soon as we are able to permit of the distribution of kerosene to traders, then each householder will be able to purchase a monthly ration of half a gallon.

In view of the important social consequences which might come about from the failure of householders to get their quota of paraffin, would the Minister not consider, in this case, giving the individual householder a coupon on foot of which he can demand the kerosene from the depôt, lest traders might sell the kerosene at fancy prices to selected householders, leaving other householders without any available supply?

I hardly think it will be necessary to do that, but if it should become necessary I will be prepared to do it.

I can assure the Minister, from my experience of the country, that it will be vitally necessary to do that. The kerosene will not go in equitable quantities to each individual householder, rich and poor, unless each individual householder has a coupon entitling him to demand his ration at the depôt.

I should like to stress the point made by Deputy Dillon about the issue of coupons. I have witnessed scenes in Cork of poor tenement people waiting in queues to get a supply of oil.

Coupons would not remedy that situation because at present traders have no kerosene in. When the trader gets in a supply of kerosene he will be in this position, that if there is evidence of his failure to comply with the wishes of this Department in securing an equitable distribution of that kerosene his registration as a trader can be withdrawn and his supply of kerosene given to somebody else for distribution.

This question of coupons is very important.

The existence of a coupon does not necessarily mean that there is a supply of kerosene available for a holder.

Not unless the Minister made up his mind to establish depôts in every rural area, and simply required people to go there for their supplies.

It would be impracticable to distribute kerosene except through the existing traders in kerosene.

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