asked the Minister for Supplies if he is aware that the fuel situation in Clondalkin is serious and needs immediate attention, as there is no licensed fuel merchant in Clondalkin, the nearest fuel merchant, who has only a horse and cart, residing at Fox and Geese, and whether the Minister is prepared to grant a fuel merchant's licence to Clondalkin Parish Council to enable them to purchase fuel supplies for the people during the coming winter and, further, if he is prepared to recommend the issue of a permit to Clondalkin Parish Council to enable them to purchase turf at Allenwood Bog.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Clondalkin Fuel Situation.
Representations have recently been made to me regarding the fuel difficulties in Clondalkin to which the Deputy refers, and I have agreed to permit the Clondalkin Parish Council to purchase a supply of turf to be sold during the winter through the medium of a licensed fuel merchant.
It is not practicable for various reasons to grant fuel merchants' licences to bodies such as parish councils, but I have informed the Clondalkin Parish Council that I shall be prepared to grant such a licence to any individual nominated by the council to enable him to sell the turf so purchased. This scheme has been accepted by the Clondalkin Parish Council.
I am not prepared to recommend that a licence be issued to the council for the removal of turf to be purchased by it in the scheduled turf area. For the purposes of price equalisation, it is necessary that all turf coming from the scheduled turf area should pass through Fuel Importers (Éire), Ltd.