asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if he will state for all the years since 1926 for which figures are available (a) the quantity of turf produced annually; (b) the estimated value of such production; (c) the average pre-war cost per ton to the purchaser, and (d) for each of the years since 1939 the economic price (including subsidy) at which turf was retailed per ton to consumers in the City of Dublin.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Turf Production and Prices.
As the reply contains a number of figures, I am arranging to have it circulated in the Official Report.
Following is the reply:—
The only particulars available for years prior to 1941 in regard to (a) the quantity of turf produced annually and (b) the estimated value of such production, relate to turf drawn from the bog by farmers, the great bulk of which was for use in their own households. It has been valued at prices paid by consumers in towns near bogs. All the available statistics will be found on page 58 of The Irish Trade Journal and Statistical Bulletin of June, 1944.
The estimated figures for the years 1941 to 1944 are as follows:—
|
(a) |
(b) |
|
|
Year |
Quantity |
Value |
|
Tons |
£ |
|
|
1941 |
5,749,000 |
10,433,000 |
|
1942 |
5,057,000 |
9,260,000 |
|
1943 |
5,079,000 |
10,111,000 |
|
1944 |
5,395,000 |
11,045,000 |
|
(provisional) |
(provisional) |
Farmers' turf, which represents about four-fifths of the whole, is valued as I have already indicated. Other turf is valued on the same basis for 1941; for subsequent years it is valued at the average wholesale price in the turf and non-turf areas, including the price paid by merchants for supplies drawn from Fuel Importers (Eire), Ltd.
No information is available in regard to the average pre-war cost per ton to the purchaser.
As regards the fourth part of the Deputy's question, the price of turf in Dublin was first controlled from the 27th June, 1941, at 45/- per ton. The controlled price was raised to 64/- per ton from 1st November, 1941. Sales by Fuel Importers (Eire), Ltd., of turf produced under special emergency schemes commenced in November, 1941, and that company's turf losses (which are recouped by subsidy) for each year since are as follows:—
|
Year |
|
|
1941 |
21/2 per ton sold |
|
1942 |
21/2 per ton sold |
|
1943 |
37/1 per ton sold |
|
1944 |
38/4 per ton sold |
The loss for the year 1945 is estimated at 39/9 per ton sold.