asked the Minister for Supplies whether he is aware that there is an acute shortage of smith's coal and shoeing iron in the Castleblayney area of County Monaghan; and, if so, whether he will take steps to relieve the situation.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Shortage of Essential Supplies.
I have received representations from various parts of the country, including Castleblayney, about the shortage of smith's coal. The position in regard to coal imports is that, with the exception of small amounts of gas coal and anthracite, all the coal now made available is indistinguishable from low volatile steam coal and consists mostly of slack. I am not, therefore, in a position to find supplies of smith's coal for blacksmiths who will be obliged to arrange to carry on their business through the medium of the types of coal now available. I am also aware that there is a general shortage of shoeing iron of standard quality. The possibility of obtaining further supplies of such iron is being explored, but the prospects are not good and farriers may have to rely entirely on scrap iron for the repair and manufacture of horse-shoes.
Arising out of the Minister's reply, can he give any advice to an individual blacksmith who finds it impossible to carry out the necessary agricultural repairs in his area? If he is unable to get coal locally, and if he applies to the Minister for Supplies, will the Minister arrange for supplies of some sort of coal in order to keep his fire burning?
I do not get the point of the Deputy's question.
The point is this: Take a blacksmith in Castleblayney who has a number of farm instruments awaiting repair and farmers' horses to be shod. If he cannot get coal wherewith to light his fire, and if he gets into communication with the Minister, will the Minister make coal available for this special purpose in the same way as he made kerosene available for special agricultural purposes analogous to the ones I have mentioned?
I cannot guarantee that. The blacksmith will be entitled to purchase coal, but I cannot guarantee that, in any part of the country at a particular time, a supply of coal will be made available to him.
Does not the Minister realise that, if the blacksmith's shop closes down in a town like Castleblayney, all horse-drawn operations in the area must cease? You cannot send a horse out to plough without four shoes. You might just as well not send petrol to the tractor as fail to supply shoes to the horse or a point to the plough. Bearing that in mind, will the Minister take steps to ensure that the blacksmith who has to carry out agricultural repairs will have coal made available to him?
It is not in my power to ensure a supply of coal at all times in all parts of the country. In so far as it is possible to distribute to the most essential users the supplies of coal that may be available, it will be done, but clearly there can be no guarantee that coal will be available at all times.
I take it that, if a blacksmith writes to the Minister's Department explaining his difficulties, the Minister will do what he can to get supplies of coal made available to him?
Yes.