asked the Minister for Finance if he will state (a) the cost per ton on the bog of the turf produced during the 1941 season at Clonsast, the cost of the haulage per ton of such turf from the bog to the railhead at Portarlington, the cost per ton of its transport by rail from Portlaoighise to Dublin; (b) the cost per ton of transporting turf by road from Clonsast to Dublin, and (c) the total quantities of Clonsast turf carried by (1) rail, and (2) road to Dublin up to October 31st, 1941.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Cost of Clonsast Turf.
Turf is produced at Clonsast by the Turf Development Board, Ltd., and sold by them on a commercial basis. The cost of haulage and rail transport is the subject of a business arrangement between the parties concerned. Generally, the question relates to administrative matters within the competence of the Turf Development Board, and in this regard I would refer the Deputy to the replies made by the Minister for Industry and Commerce to questions on such matters asked by him on 16th June, 1936, and 9th February, 1939.
Is it a fact that the Turf Development Board is now under the control of the Parliamentary Secretary, and is he refusing to give this information simply because he cannot stand over the retail price of turf at 64/- per ton?
The answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. The answer to the second part is in the negative.
If the Parliamentary Secretary is in charge of the operations of the Turf Development Board, on what grounds does he refuse to give the information asked for in the question?
On precisely the same grounds on which a refusal was given on the 16th June, 1936, and 9th February, 1939.
Is it in the public interest or in the Party interest?