asked the Minister for Supplies whether he is aware that there was no turf for sale by merchants in the town of Dundalk on Friday, 12th, Saturday, 13th, Monday, 15th, and Tuesday, 16th November, and that orders for turf are two or three weeks behind in the town; further, if it is a fact that Fuel Importers, Limited, are compelling merchants to take turf from railway waggons, instead of from dumps, and thereby making purchasers of turf buy sodden turf; and if he will state what action he proposes to take to remedy these causes of grievance.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Dundalk Fuel Situation.
I am not aware that turf was not available for sale in the town of Dundalk on the llth, 12th, 13th, l5th, and 16th November, 1943, or that orders for turf are two to three weeks behind in the town. On each of these dates supplies of turf were received by Dundalk fuel merchants and inquiries have revealed that none of the merchants is unduly behindhand in dealing with urgent orders.
Wherever practicable, and to the extent to which saleable turf is available, fuel merchants are required to take their supplies direct from the railway station or other delivery point rather than through the damps, with a view to eliminating as far as possible the extra delivery and storage costs involved in putting the turf into the dumps. The allegation that the merchants are being compelled to take deliveries of sodden turf from railway waggons is without foundation. Fuel merchants have the right to reject unmerchantable turf and this right has at all times been freely exercised by the Dundalk merchants.
Is the Minister aware that as the dump was not opened the merchants could not exercise that option? Therefore, the only remedy for the situation—I am sure the Minister will agree with this—is to open the dumps there when the quantity and quality of the turf at Dundalk are not suitable for the residents.
When inquiries were made by my Department, none of the fuel merchants in Dundalk agreed that they were without suitable turf, or that their deliveries were in arrears.
Mr. Larkin
Does the Minister not think that the time has arrived to consider the question of filling the vacancies that exist on the Turf Development Board, and that a personal representative of the consumers should be appointed on it?
That is a separate question.