asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce whether he has been consulted by the Great Southern Railways Company as to the priority list of goods drawn up by the company; and, if so, if he will state what is the order of the list; further, whether he is aware of the great dissatisfaction that exists with the places given to fish and ice, and if he will take steps to ensure the more expeditious handling of these goods.
Ceisteanna.—Questions. Oral Answers. - Great Southern Railways Goods Priority List.
The order of priority for the transportation of goods on the rail and road merchandise vehicles of Great Southern Railways Company is determined by me, and not by the com- pany. As announced in the Press on 26th April, the Great Southern Railways Company are required to provide transport in priority for the following classes of goods: Supplies for urgent defence purposes, fuels, essential foodstuffs, raw materials for agricultural production. The company is required to carry other traffics to the full capacity of their available services to the extent that traffic of the above descriptions is not available for carriage.
Fish is being accommodated on "perishable" trains, which is the most expeditious service at present at the disposal of the railway company. The best service possible is given for ice traffic within the means at the company's disposal, but it is not always possible in existing conditions to have spare wagons available for this traffic at short notice.
Is the Minister aware that on the 26th and 27th April the Great Southern Railways did not supply sufficient wagons in Cork for the carriage of ice, and that, owing to this neglect, thousands of boxes of fish shipped from Valentia were condemned on the British market on the 1st and 2nd of this month? The fishermen and the fish merchants in South Kerry fully appreciate the difficulties of the railway company, but I consider that it is not too much to ask the railway company at present to supply three or four wagons for the transport of ice when there are heavy landings of fish at Valentia and Dingle.
With regard to the specific complaint of the Deputy, I am informed that the company went to considerable trouble in regard to the movement of the ice required by the fishermen, and arranged to have it forwarded to the area by a turf special train, which was the only transport available. It is obvious that, in present circumstances, transport facilities will be curtailed, and, as we have to give priority to certain traffics essential to our own purposes, it will not be practicable to provide in future, as in the past, the same facilities for the movement of goods for export.
Is the Minister aware that the railway company in Cork refused to accept ice after 5 o'clock in the evening?
I am not aware of that.
Mr. Larkin
It is true.