asked the Minister for Supplies if he is aware that a hitch in the distribution of bakers' bread on Saturday, the 14th March, caused queues of large numbers of people to assemble all over Dublin outside shops selling bread, in one case on the south side of Dublin there being 520 persons waiting for supplies at 1.30 p.m.; if he is aware that on Monday, the 16th March, bread steaming hot was sold in Dublin and in many cases in insufficient quantities to meet the requirements of the families who largely depend on bread as the principal article of food and if, in view of these circumstances, he will issue ration cards and grant supplies commensurate with the needs of the people and so prevent the hardships of waiting and the suspense and fear of deprivation.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Distribution of Bread.
Mr. Byrne
I am aware that on Saturday, 14th March, queues formed outside certain bakers' shops in Dublin and I had a special investigation made as to the reason for these queues. I find it was not due to any dislocation in the delivery arrangements of the bakers nor to shortage of supplies of bread. In fact, more than normal supplies of bread were available at these particular shops and the queues formed about the time mentioned by the Deputy with the object apparently of procuring freshly baked bread immediately on delivery. The question of issuing official rationing cards for bread is being considered and, meanwhile, the Dublin bakers have adopted a system of registration of their own customers, but I doubt if, in view of the reason for the queues, official ration cards will remove them entirely.
Mr. Byrne
Will the Minister say when it is likely that ration cards for this purpose will be issued, because even this morning there were queues outside the bread shops?
I have explained that the queues outside the bread shops are not due to any scarcity of bread, but are due entirely to the people forming the queues waiting to get fresh bread when it arrives. That will not be changed by the issuing of ration cards.
Mr. Byrne
Is the Minister aware that on Saturday morning at 11 o'clock there were queues outside bread shops in Cabra, and that the women there got only one loaf instead of four for families of seven or eight?
I am not aware of that.
Is the Minister aware that there are other parts of the city where the people get no bread at all?
I am aware that queues were formed outside shops where bread was for sale—bread of the previous day's baking.
The Minister can be aware that outside a certain shop in the North Strand at five minutes to six on Saturday, 14th March, a queue was turned away without getting any bread at all.
Mr. Byrne
There were queues on the North Strand this morning.
asked the Minister for Supplies if he will make regulations to ensure that shopkeepers in rural areas will receive the full 80 per cent. of bread and flour supplies from their bakers and that the Gárda be instructed to visit these shops daily to ensure that 80 per cent. supplies are delivered.
I am not prepared to make regulations to ensure that shopkeepers in rural areas generally should receive a predetermined percentage of the available supplies of bread and flour. The availability of supplies of alternative foodstuffs may be taken into consideration in determining from time to time the quantity of bread and flour which should be made available for shopkeepers in particular localities. Subject to this, every effort is being made to distribute supplies as equitably as possible amongst all traders.