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Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 8 Apr 1943

Vol. 89 No. 14

Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Cost of Turf Transport.

asked the Minister for Supplies if he will state the cost per ton for the transport of turf by (a) canal, and (b) road, from Longford to Dublin.

Operations on the Royal Canal are confined to by-traders who, so far as I am aware, have no standard rates of charge. No national turf has been transported over that canal and consequently I have not the information asked for at (a) of the question.

The cost of transporting turf by road depends on the distance of the bogs from Dublin which in the case of Longford varies between 60 and 90 miles. Taking County Longford as a whole, the average cost of transporting national turf from that county to Dublin by road is 29/10 per ton. This figure includes loading of lorries, discharge, and delivery.

Will the Minister explain why, in view of the fact that the cost of transport by road is 29/10 for the whole country, barge owners in County Kildare are being offered 11/9 per ton to transport turf from the same county.

That is a separate question.

It is completely irrelevant.

That is why the people of Dublin are paying so much for turf.

I did not say that 29/10 was charged for transport. That is the cost delivered.

Barge owners will do it much cheaper but you will not let them.

There is no barge in either county capable of carrying turf that is not fully employed.

Arising out of that reply I would like to refer the Minister to a letter of August 20th, 1942, from the Turf Division, offering 11/9 per ton for the transport of turf by barge from Cloondara, while 29/10 is paid to lorry owners.

I did not say that 29/10 per ton was paid for transport. That is the cost of loading, discharging and delivery.

It is the cost of transport by canal.

The Deputy is misinformed.

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