asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if he is aware that, during the past month, there have been no supplies of fuel available for the people of Cobh; and if he will state what steps, if any, he proposes to take to ensure that supplies of turf will be available for this district.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Fuel Supplies.
I am unable to accept the suggestion that during the past month there have been no supplies of fuel available for the people of Cobh. The primary responsibility for obtaining turf supplies for Cobh, as in the rest of the turf areas, lies with the local merchants. My Department has given the merchants every possible assistance in the matter and will continue to do so and it is hoped that it will be possible to maintain the recent improvement in supplies.
On four occasions during the past month I was in the town of Cobh and I found that the merchants there had notices on their doors, saying: "No orders accepted". They could not supply even half a cwt. of turf to men who, in the ordinary course, would get half a ton. The principal trouble is with the C.I.E. wagons. That is the information I got from the merchants there. Will the Minister see that wagons are furnished in order to supply turf to the town?
The total quantity of turf which reached Cobh in the month of January was 300 tons, which was normal for that month. The quantity which reached Cobh during the first week in February was 112 tons, which was above normal for that time of the year.
asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if he is aware that fuel merchants in Cobh charge for turf at the rate of 4/- a cwt. bag; further, that the charge for turf in Midleton, which is the same distance as Cobh from the source of supply, is from 3/3 to 3/6 a cwt. bag; if he will give the reasons for this discrepancy in price; and if he will have inquiries made as to the reasonableness or otherwise of the charges in Cobh.
I am not aware that the facts are as stated by the Deputy. The price of turf in Cobh for small lots, I am informed, is 3/6 per cwt. and I am of the opinion that this price is a reasonable one.
I am aware that 4/- per bag was charged for turf in Cobh. I am prepared to stand over that. I asked the merchants what was the price and they told me that it was 4/- a bag. I do not know where the Minister got his information from in connection with that matter.
asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if he is aware that, although Cobh is 15 miles further than Cork from the source of its turf supply, Cork is scheduled as a non-turf area, while Cobh is scheduled as a turf area; and if he will take steps to have Cobh scheduled as a non-turf area, so that turf supplied there may qualify for the same rate of subsidy, 38/- a ton, as applies to turf supplied to Cork.
I am aware that Cobh, like the whole of County Cork, apart from Cork City and its immediate neighbourhood, is in the scheduled turf area. Full consideration was given to all relevant circumstances when Cobh was included in the turf area in 1941 and I am not prepared now to take steps to have it included in the non-turf area.
I should like to point out—
The Deputy has been pointing out certain things in relation to other questions already. Does he not realise that at question time supplementary questions only may be asked and that Deputies must not reply to a Minister's statement? If the Deputy has any supplementary question to ask, he may ask it.
In view of the unsatisfactory nature of the Minister's reply, I desire to give notice that I shall raise this matter on the adjournment.
Already there are three or four Deputies ahead.
asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if he is aware of the serious fuel position in East Meath; if it is his intention to declare the area concerned a non-turf area; and if not, if he will have special arrangements made to ensure that much scrub timber, which abounds in this area, is made available to the local people at a price in keeping with their means.
The fuel position in East Meath is no worse than in many other parts of the country and it would not be eased in any way at the present time by declaring East Meath to be a non-turf area since the adequacy of the dumps to meet the demands of the non-turf area is already a matter for considerable anxiety. The provision of firewood or an alternative fuel is entirely a matter for local enterprise. The price of firewood is controlled by Emergency Powers (Control of Prices) (No. 121) Order 1942 as amended by Emergency Powers (Control of Prices) (No. 121) Order 1942 (Amendment) (No. 1) Order 1943.
Is it legal to bring into such an area timber fuel from another part of the country?
Certainly.