asked the Minister for Supplies if he is aware that the Malahide Gas Works has been closed down since Thursday, 25th November, for want of gas coal, and, as a result, the people in Malahide are in a bad way for lighting and cooking facilities; and, in view of this, if he will make arrangements to have supplies of gas goal allotted to the Malahide Gas Company so that they may be in a position to give reasonable service to their customers.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Coal Supplies for Gas Works.
I understand that the Malahide Gas Works has been closed since 25th November. As I have indicated, however, in reply to a recent question from another Deputy, the quantity of gas coal at present being made available to this country is only a fraction of the normal importation. The Malahide Gas Works have been receiving their full share of the available supplies and additional supplies of this coal cannot, therefore, be provided for them. They have also been receiving from my Department the same facilities for the purchase of other classes of coal to supplement their gas coal allocations as other gas undertakings, and as these other gas works have found it possible, despite the difficulties of the supply position, to continue in production even if only to a limited extent, I find it difficult to understand the inability of the Malahide works to do likewise.