asked the Minister for Supplies if he will state what steps, if any, he has taken to secure that persons in Dublin who instead of purchasing bread purchased flour and baked their own bread at home shall receive the 80 per cent. of their normal requirements said to be available; whether he is aware that such people have been unable to get their 80 per cent. supply of flour; and if he will say what steps they can take to obtain their proper supply.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Supply of Flour.
I am aware that the position is as stated in the second part of the question and I would refer the Deputy to my reply to a similar question yesterday.
Will the Minister say what steps he has taken to see that the amount is available and will he indicate, for the information of the public who are unable to get the flour, what steps they should take?
I think I indicated that in my reply yesterday.
If the Minister throws back his mind he will find he did not. Is the Minister aware that there are people who are entirely dependent on flour, who bake their bread at home, who for the last two weeks have not got any flour at all? Will he say what percentage of flour is going to the retail shops and what those people ought to do to get flour to maintain their families in bread?
If any case is submitted to me for the purpose of showing that any trader has not distributed flour in accordance with Ins instructions I will have the matter rectified.
Will the Minister say what instructions he has given? How does it happen that people who got flour regularly from a particular trader, who, say, got one and a half stone per week are now only able to get a quarter stone and in some cases are not able to get any? How does it happen that we have that state of affairs in the city?
It happens through the inequitable distribution of flour by the trader in question.
Do I take it that the Minister says it is caused by unfair distribution by the retailer in question?
The trader is getting 80 per cent. of his normal supply.
The Minister knows perfectly well the trader is not.
That is not a supplementary question.
Could we have it from the Minister that the retailers of flour in the City of Dublin are getting 80 per cent. of their normal supply?
That is right.
And that those people who were accustomed to get flour from retailers may address the Minister on the subject of the shortage in their supply?
That is correct.
Mr. Byrne
Is the Minister aware that some small shops that used to sell flour are now not getting flour from the wholesalers? I have sent some cases of that type to his Department. The small shopkeepers are blamed but they arc not getting it from the wholesalers. Will he look into that matter?
Certainly.
Is there a relatively greater percentage of flour going to the bakers than for home consumption?
No.
asked the Minister for Supplies if he is aware that there is an acute shortage of flour in the Renvyle and Recess districts of Connemara, and also a shortage of potatoes; and if he will take steps to ensure that increased supplies of flour are made available in these districts.
As a result of the special investigations undertaken by my Department into the position in the Connemara area, including Renvyle and Recess, arrangements have been made to release extra supplies of flour for this area.