asked the Minister for Finance whether he is aware of the serious shortage of fuel in the Ballinamore, County Leitrim, district; whether he is aware that, owing to the condition of the bogs and the approach roads, there is no likelihood that the turf harvested in the district this season can be recovered for use during the winter; whether he is further aware that in the neighbourhood there are thousands of tons of coal which could be made available for the use of the people in the district; and whether it is his intention to so make available the coal in question.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Fuel Position in County Leitrim.
From inquiries made it would appear that there is a shortage of turf at the normal sources of supply adjacent to Ballinamore. Supplies of turf produced by the county council are, however, available at Slievenacilla bog situated about eight miles from this town and further inquiries are being made to see what steps are necessary and practicable to make good any deficiency that exists.
So far as coal is concerned, the coal position has deteriorated to such an extent that, except in the cases of persons who are solely dependent for cooking purposes on cookers for which no fuel other than anthracite can be used, the Minister for Supplies has been obliged to prohibit the use of coal for ordinary domestic purposes throughout the State in order to reserve the available supplies for industrial purposes. It is not possible to make an exception in favour of the people of the Ballinamore district, who are in any case resident within the scheduled turf areas.