asked the Minister for Finance whether he is aware that the Birr Urban District Council are unable to dispose of 7,500 cubic yards of turf, that they are indebted to the bank for a sum of £2,850 covering the cost of production, storage and interest charges; whether it is a fact that a guarantee was given by his Department to the council concerned to purchase all turf produced by them at the cost of production, and if he will take the necessary steps to carry out the guarantee given to this council.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Turf Surplus in Birr.
The figures stated in the question are believed to be correct.
The difficulty of disposal in this case is the high cost of the turf.
No guarantee was given to the council that turf produced by them would be purchased by the Government at the cost of production, but, on the contrary, they were informed on two occasions that there would be no Government subventions; that costs should be kept at a point which would enable the council to dispose of the whole production to the people of the town; and that production should be carried on in such a way that no loss would fall on the rates. Efforts are being made to help the council in the disposal of this turf.
If I furnish the Parliamentary Secretary with a statement from the town clerk of Birr, over his own signature, that such a guarantee was given and that a Deputy from the Parliamentary Secretary's Party was present when the guarantee was given, will he make further inquiries?
Certainly, but I am perfectly certain that no guarantee was given to anybody that turf would be bought at any cost of production.
Does the Parliamentary Secretary remember the guarantee he gave to Deputy Brodrick in this House on the matter?
I remember any guarantees I gave. I gave no guarantee to buy turf at any cost at which anybody might produce it.
What was the price at which the Government refused to buy the turf in this case?
It is not for the Government to buy turf. The Government never offered to buy turf at all. The Government promised to find a market for all turf of merchantable quality, produced under reasonable conditions and at a reasonable price. At no time did they offer to buy turf.
Is it a fact that Fuel Importers, representing the Government, offered to buy this turf at 45/- delivered in Dublin?
I do not think they did, but I shall inquire.
Has the Parliamentary Secretary any information as to the price of the turf in question?
I understand that it would be from 55/- to 60/- by the time it arrived in Dublin. Turf produced in the same district by the county surveyor's organisation cost 26/- at the bog.
What would it cost in Dublin?
About 40/-.
And it is being sold for 64/-.
That particular turf might well be sold at 64/-.