asked the Minister for Supplies if in order to ensure that threshing operations will be carried out efficiently next harvest he will say what provision he intends to make with regard to coal supplies for this purpose.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Coal Supplies for Threshing.
Owing to the deterioration in the coal supply position, it is improbable that any suitable coal will be available for threshing purposes this year.
Does the Minister appreciate how much that will slow down threshing operations, and how serious the position will be in view of the need of an increased harvest?
I appreciate that fully. I am merely telling the Deputy that it is improbable that suitable coal will be available.
Does the Minister appreciate that the quantity required will be relatively small?
It is not merely a question of quantity, but of quality.
I do not suggest that full supplies should be made available, but there should be some quantity supplied.
Last year a number of threshing set owners could not use the quality of coal that was made available. The only quality that is now available is so low that it would be unsuitable for use in these sets. I can hold out no hope that the quality is likely to improve, apart altogether from the difficulties in the matter of quantity.
Is the Minister aware that in some of the tillage districts good quality turf is not available?
I fully appreciate all the difficulties.
It is a fact that in certain tillage districts turf of good quality is not available—the type of turf that might be used as an alternative fuel.
I appreciate all the difficulties. I am merely saying that it is improbable that suitable coal will be available for threshing sets in the autumn. There is nothing that we can do about it.
Will the Minister further consider the matter in order to see if something can be done?
If it is possible to get suitable coal, it will be made available.
Will the Minister see to it that a better quality of coal than that now made available for the Great Southern Railways will be made available for threshing sets?
It is the only quality we can get.
Mr. Morrissey
If that is so, then God help the harvest.