asked the Minister for Supplies whether he has received representations on behalf of turf workers in the Allenwood, Robertstown, Kilmeague and Mylerstown areas, County Kildare, requesting permission to be allowed to sell turf per dozen sods; whether he has considered the representations; and, if so, whether he is now in a position to announce a decision.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Sale of Kildare Turf.
I have received representations on behalf of the turf workers referred to by the Deputy, and have considered further the question of fixing the retail price of turf per dozen sods. In view, however, of the inevitable increase in price in excess of that now in operation, which would follow if the price were fixed as proposed, and the consequent reactions on the poorer sections of the community, I cannot depart from the decision taken under which turf prices are fixed on the basis of weight.
Is the Minister aware that a very substantial number of persons in a very poor area have, in the past and up to the present, secured employment in the conveyance of turf to Dublin and its sale in Dublin; and, in view of the fact that they have no difficulty whatever in disposing of that turf at present prices to persons who are fair judges of what good-quality turf is, would he not reconsider his decision, so as to maintain these people in employment and at the same time assist in the conveyance of a greater quantity of turf to the Dublin area?
Permission to sell turf by the dozen sods could not be confined to one section of the community. The individuals in whom Deputy Norton is interested are at present selling that turf at rates equivalent to £9 per ton, and I think it is desirable that that practice should cease. These individuals, I am sure, can be organised to produce turf for central sale.
I do not wish to be taken as accepting the Minister's figures, but is he aware that persons in this city would much prefer to buy sods of turf, which they can see with their own eyes in the cutters' carts, at present prices, rather than take the risk of buying the turf that they get from the turf merchants in sacks?
I do not think that point arises. The turf sold by bellmen in Dublin is easily visible, but it has to be sold by weight. The only thing that I want to ensure is that it be sold by weight.
Surely, the Minister knows that these poor people in these districts cannot equip themselves with weighing facilities, seeing that they spend a day and a half coming here to the city, a day in selling the turf, and another day going back.
It seems to me, according to the Deputy, that these people cannot sell turf at all except at a rate of about £9 a ton, which is an exorbitant rate at the present time, and if we were to extend to them a concession in the matter of selling turf only by weight, so as to enable them to sell it by the dozen sods, we could not confine it to these individuals only, and the whole system of regulating turf prices, by insisting on sale by weight, would break down.
Is the Minister aware that a good many people are anxious that it should not be sold by weight now, but by the sod?
That is a separate question.
The price per sod that would be equivalent to the present price per weight would be so much lower than the price the workers in Kildare, in whom Deputy Norton is interested, would sell turf at, that it would be completely uneconomic from their point of view.
Is the Minister aware of the fact that these sods were previously sold at 4d. per dozen, that they are now being sold at 6d. per dozen, and that they do not contain anything like the moisture which is in the turf sold by the turf merchants?
At 6d. a dozen it would be about £8 a ton.
Is the Minister aware that an increase of from 4d. to 6d. per dozen sods, in the case of these poor people, is not unreasonable in view of the fancy prices that are charged by the turf merchants in the city?
The price which the merchants can charge is fixed by Order.
Surely, the Minister does not say that the price charged by merchants is reasonable?
But the Deputy is now pleading for people who want to charge £8 a ton.
That is not so.
Is there any fixed maximum percentage for the water content?
That is a separate question.
The more water, the more weight.