asked the Minister for Supplies if it is a fact that his Department has refused to allow an extra ration of tea for auxiliary firemen on night duty.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Tea Ration.
I have received no application for an additional tea allowance in respect of auxiliary firemen on night duty. Applications for additional allowances of tea in respect of Air Raid Precaution units and fire-watching services have been received in my Department, and it is possible that one or more of these applications may embrace auxiliary firemen employed on night duty. No decision has yet been taken on any of the applications.
asked the Minister for Supplies whether he is aware that large numbers of workers attend for work early in the morning and during the night, and that the present ration of tea does not permit of their obtaining tea whilst at work during these abnormal hours, and whether in view of the hardships caused to such workers by the absence of a reasonable supply of tea he will make arrangements to issue to such workers a supplementary tea ration.
I am aware that the small ration of tea which it is at present possible to allow, having regard to the restricted supplies being received, imposes hardship on many people, including the workers to whom the Deputy refers. In view of the position as regards stocks and future supplies, I regret, however, that I can hold out no prospect of a supplementary ration to the workers mentioned by the Deputy, or to any of the numerous other sections of the community to which I would like to give an increased tea ration if sufficient tea was available to enable me to do so. The limited quantity of tea out of which a special allowance is made to workers engaged in turf-cutting and coal mining has already been considerably diminished, and it is not sufficient to provide similar relief for any other class of worker.