asked the Minister for Finance if he will state approximately what quantity of turf will be necessary to meet the normal domestic requirements of (a) Dublin City; (b) the Borough of Dun Laoghaire; and (c) County Dublin for the six months, October to March (inclusive), on the assumption that no domestic coal for use in these areas can be imported from now until next March, and further if he will state the approximate quantity of turf and/or wood which (1) the organisations established by or working under the auspices of the Government; and (2) other agencies, have to date brought into each of the said areas and stored or disposed of to customers in these areas, and what quantity of the turf and/or wood already cut and saved has been set aside for consumers in these areas and is waiting transport to them.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Turf Supply for County Dublin.
The normal annual consumption of coal for domestic purposes in the three areas mentioned would be about 450,000 tons of which about 300,000 would be consumed in the months of October-March and 150,000 tons in the months of April-September, i.e., about 50,000 tons per month in winter and about 25,000 tons per month in summer.
Assuming a ration of one-quarter of a ton per month the following is the estimated consumption for the months October-March in the three areas mentioned:—
|
Dublin County Borough |
180,000 tons |
|
Dun Laoghaire Borough |
15,000 tons |
|
Dublin County |
30,000 tons |
Under the firewood scheme being carried out under the auspices of the Department of Supplies, 2,000 tons have reached the dumps in Dublin. In addition 5,000 tons have been cut and stacked, awaiting transport. This is all from State forests. No information is available as to the quantity, if any, cut and stacked in privately owned woodlands. No information is available as to the quantities brought into or destined for the areas in question by agencies not working under the auspices of the Department.
Information in relation to the amount of turf or wood available or transportable into any particular area is at the moment insufficient for allocations to be made.
asked the Minister for Finance if he will state how many applications for licences to bring in turf of Dublin City have been received, whether any such applications have been granted, and, if so, to whom and under what conditions.
Up to 22nd July, 1941, 152 applications were received to bring turf into Dublin City, and permits were granted in 14 cases. Eight of these permits were granted to firms or bodies which had organised the direct production of turf within the turf areas; two were granted in cases where the turf was required for a special process for which no other fuel was suitable; two where the turf was required for experimental purposes; one where the turf was purchased and in transit on the date when the order was made, and one to cover the large scale transport of turf for storage in Dublin City.
Will the Parliamentary Secretary state whether the licence applied for by the Clontarf Parish Council has been sanctioned? It was one of those cases which he stated would be dealt with on its merits.
That is a separate question.
That is a separate question.
Mr. Byrne
The question has been put down deliberately to try and get information as to whether the Clontarf Parish Council has got a licence.
Then that is the question should be put down.
Mr. Byrne
Is it not included in the list read out? Will the Parliamentary Secretary not reply?
No, I have no intention.
Mr. Byrne
Has the Clontarf Parish Council no hope of a licence, considering that they purchased turf and made arrangements for its transport and for taking it in, and that many people have no other means of getting turf for fuel for the coming winter?
A similar argument might be put up for any of the 152 applications which were received. I do not propose to argue the merits of particular cases in answer to a question.
Mr. Byrne
The Clontarf Parish Council, on the advice of members of this House——
The Deputy may not make a speech.
Mr. Byrne
I am putting it that it was on the advice of the House that the parish council was formed and they purchased turf——
The Deputy has not yet asked a question.
Mr. Byrne
What are the people to do who cannot make any other arrangements only through the parish council to get fuel?
The Deputy's question is a general one.
Is it not perfectly manifest that the Parliamentary Secretary knows perfectly well whether Clontarf Parish Council's application for a licence was granted or not, and common courtesy demands that when a Deputy asks for information in pursuit of a general question, he would give it in good will instead of acting the dog in the manger? He knows perfectly well and should tell.
That question was not asked.
The Parliamentary Secretary just wanted to be rude.
Could the Parliamentary Secretary say whether it is the general intention when residents in the City of Dublin apply for a permit to bring in turf from outside Dublin, that they will be given permission to do so?
I cannot say that that is the general policy at the moment.
I know that. The fact is that I am resident in Dublin, but I represent a constituency outside Dublin, and as a number of inquiries reached me from residents in Dublin, and from persons resident in Kildare who have turf available, in connection with this matter, it is desirable that there should be some early intimation.
When I am able to do so I will make it.
The turf wagons are standing idle.