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Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 29 Oct 1941

Vol. 85 No. 1

Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Turf Production.

asked the Minister for Finance if he will state in respect of each county the area in statute acres of the uncut or partially cut peat bog areas exceeding 100 acres in extent and the area of such boglands vested in or owned by (a) the State or some Department of State, (b) local authorities, (c) private or semi-public corporate bodies, e.g., colleges, etc.; (d) co-operative societies, (e) public or private companies, including coal and turf merchants, and (f) other owners, distinguishing in each case the area of bog which is (a) undrained, (b) partially drained, and (c) fully drained.

asked the Minister for Finance if he will state the area and location of any boglands leased or let by any Department of State to private individuals or to private or public companies.

asked the Minister for Finance if he will state in respect of each county the quantity of turf cut and saved in (a) 1940, and (b) 1941, distinguishing in each case between turf cut and saved on bogs which are undrained, partially drained and fully drained and between turf cut and saved by (a) private enterprise, (b) local authorities, (c) co-operative effort, e.g., co-operative societies, parish councils, etc., and (d) State or other public authority.

asked the Minister for Finance if he will state in respect of the turf-producing counties the quantity of turf cut and saved in each county by the local authorities during the present year, and whether he will state further the surplus turf in each county available for export to (a) Dublin and (b) other areas outside the turf-producing counties throughout the country.

asked the Minister for Finance if he will state (distinguishing between the several grades of workers) the rates of wages paid by (a) the Turf Development Board, and (b) county councils to adult men employed on the bogs directly or indirectly in connection with the turf-cutting campaign, 1941: further, whether he will set out, so far as possible, the hourly, daily and piecework rates for each county separately.

asked the Minister for Finance if he will state approximately for the year 1941 the quantity of turf which has been brought into the City of Dublin and the Borough of Dun Laoghaire to date on Government account; the quantity which it is anticipated will be brought in (a) before December 31st, and (b) between January 1st and March 31st, 1942; further, whether he will state (1) approximately the quantities brought by (a) rail, (b) canal, and (c) road transport, and (2) the rates per ton-mile for the haulage of turf brought into Dublin by rail in each of the years 1924, 1929, 1934, 1939, and 1941.

I will deal together with questions numbered 10, 11, 12, 14, 15 and 16. Particulars of the numbers of tons of turf cut and saved by each county council, estimated on the basis that ten cubic yards of raw turf are equivalent to one ton of dry turf, will be issued in tabular form with the printed report. These estimates are the best available, but must be treated with some reserve, more particularly in cases where large quantities of turf were obtained by contract, and where the calculation of the tonnage figure will not give the correct relative results.

The compilation of the other statistical information asked for by the Deputies, on the assumption that the necessary datum is available, and in many cases it is not, would require a considerable amount of the time of the staff who are engaged on the urgent and immediate task of making provision for fuel supplies for the non-turf areas; and I am not in a position to take them from this work. A statement setting forth the general position in regard to the supply of turf to the non-turf areas will be made immediately after questions, and this will cover such matters referred to in the Deputies' questions as I am in a position to deal with at present.

Following is the statement showing the estimated quantity of turf cut and saved by each county council in 1941:—

County.

Estimated tons.

Carlow

2,796

Cavan

10,601

Clare

49,953

Cork (North)

33,206

Cork (South)

16,498

Donegal

242,355

Dublin

2,590

Galway

130,555

Kerry

121,585

Kildare

12,204

Kilkenny

4,415

Laoighis

17,571

Leitrim

7,770

Limerick

32,290

Longford

25,836

Louth

2,074

Mayo

74,267

Meath

14,659

Monaghan

22,147

Offaly

10,312

Roscommon

37,868

Sligo

31,986

Tipperary (North)

44,828

Tipperary (South)

7,288

Waterford

6,428

Westmeath

24,560

Wexford

719

Wicklow

12,664

1,000,025

asked the Minister for Finance if he will state the present position with regard to the winning and saving of turf, indicating the quantities cut and saved in each county and the quantity in each county available for sale outside the county.

A census of the total quantity of turf cut and saved in each county in 1941 is at present being taken. For the figures of production by county councils I would refer the Deputy to the reply to Deputy Davin on this date.

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