asked the Minister for the Co-ordination of Defensive Measures whether he is aware that about a year ago members of the Air-Raid Warden Service of Dublin were officially informed that arrangements were being made to see that those who badly needed cycle tyres would be supplied with them (at the full retail price) on certification by the group wardens that the members applying used their bicycles in connection with their A.R.P. duties and that the tyres were badly worn; that very many applications were made under this arrangement, and that no tyres have yet been issued; and if, in view of the fact that applicants for tyres did not, on account of this promise, endeavour to get tyres through other channels, he will see that they will be immediately supplied.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Cycle Tyres for Air-Raid Wardens.
The position is not as indicated in the first part of the Deputy's question. More than a year ago unsuccessful efforts were made to secure a special allocation of cycle tyres and tubes for A.R.P. service personnel. The Department of Defence were advised that the members of the Cycle Traders' Association were willing to co-operate to ensure that, as far as possible, the limited supplies of tyres and tubes which they receive would be distributed to those persons most urgently in need of them. The City Manager was advised accordingly and was asked to have lists prepared of the names and addresses of A.R.P. personnel who required bicycle tyres together with an indication of the result of the approaches made by the personnel to their local cycle traders.
Following the receipt of these lists, renewed efforts were made to secure a special allocation. These efforts were again unsuccessful. In this connection, I would invite the Deputy's attention to the reply given in the Dáil by the Minister for Supplies on the 6th May last in regard to tyres for personnel of the various emergency services.
The gist of the Minister's reply seems to be that a promise was made that efforts would be made to get those tyres. If that is the case, why did official information go right through the service that tyres would, in fact, be given and why was the impression given that they were available?
No promise was made that the tyres would be given. Every effort was made to secure the tyres. Unfortunately, the Minister for Supplies has not a sufficient number of tyres within the country to give them to everybody who needs them, even those who need them very badly.
My grouse is that about a year ago wardens were officially informed that tyres would be granted without any proviso as to ability to obtain them. That situation has continued for the past year and wardens have been waiting for the tyres. They made no effort to get the tyres elsewhere.