asked the Minister for Supplies if he will state what steps he is taking to ensure supplies of fuel for the Dublin hospitals, in view of the serious position which will arise shortly as many of the hospitals have only a few weeks' supply; and if he will also state what position in priority the hospitals will have with regard to fuel.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Fuel Supplies for Hospitals.
Permits to purchase coal and turf to meet the fuel requirements of the Dublin hospitals will be issued from time to time in accordance with the general supply position. I should point out, however, that the responsibility of arranging to procure supplies on such permits rests on the managements of these institutions. The Deputy's reference to an order of priority relates, I assume, to coke, surplus supplies of which are distributed when available by the Dublin Gas Company in accordance with priority directions from my Department. The hospitals are placed on this priority list after certain essential industries. For some time past, however, the gas company has not had any surplus coke for distribution after meeting the needs of these industries.
Is the Minister aware that in connection with cooking, hospitals are cut down to one-eighth of their permits, the same as private individuals, and that it is really too serious to contemplate that hospitals would be entirely closed down, which is what may result if special consideration is not speedily given to certain hospitals? Do I take it from the Minister's reply that the Department will take into account the special position of hospitals? Is not that so? But the position may have become very bad by the time the Department can do something about it, and I would ask the Minister to give the fuel to the hospitals when they ask for it. To apply the ordinary rules to them is hardly sufficient to meet the urgent position in which some of them find themselves. As regards priority, I want to ask the Minister if he is aware that there is a rumour that the hospitals are 15th on the list of priorities? Surely, they would come earlier than that?
I do not know how I am going to start putting the Deputy right. So far as the distribution of coal and turf is concerned, there is no question of a priority list at all. Supplies are distributed in accordance with the requirements of all essential users, and in relation to the total supply position. The reference to one-eighth of the ration has also been misunderstood by the Deputy. All permit holders were permitted to purchase during the month of April one-eighth of the quantity which the permit authorised them to purchase for six months' supply. There is, therefore, no question of a reduction to one-eighth of the previous supply. They were required to effect economies in consumption. I could not undertake to supply all the fuel that the hospitals require. I do not think that some of them have been very provident in regard to the supplies they got. Some of them failed to take the precaution, when told to do it, of laying in reserve stocks, and some, which did take the precaution, dissipated them since, in my opinion, unnecessarily. I can assure the Deputy and the House that arrangements will be made to keep supplies to these hospitals, but we will also take precautions to ensure that they make economic use of the supplies they get.
Some of the hospitals, he says, dissipated their reserves. I would not use the word dissipated. They used them when they were asked to use them by the Department.
I do not think that is correct. They used them to suit their own convenience, regardless of the future.