asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if he is aware of the acute shortage of paraffin oil in many areas in North Cork; and if so, if he will state what steps his Department intend to take to relieve the present situation and to ensure that it will not recur.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Supplies of Paraffin Oil.
asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if he is aware that householders in Glenhest, County Mayo, have not received a ration of paraffin oil since January, although in other areas there have been three deliveries of rations since Christmas; if he will give the reasons why this situation has arisen; and if he will state what steps he proposes to take to remedy it.
I propose to take Questions Nos. 5 and 6 together. In reply, I would refer the Deputies to my statements in the Dáil on the 22nd January, 1947, and the 26th February, 1947, in connection with questions regarding the delay in the delivery of petrol and kerosene throughout the country. I am informed by the oil distributing companies that sea-borne cargoes of kerosene were recently delivered at Cork and Sligo and that further cargoes will be delivered to these ports. Road transport is also being augmented to provide for local deliveries and every effort is being made by the companies to dispose of outstanding arrears of deliveries to traders. I must point out, however, that I have instructed the oil companies that the most serious obligation on them at present is to ensure the speedy distribution of vaporising oil to tractor owners so as to ensure that there will be no avoidable hitch or delay in tillage operations. As the facilities at the disposal of the companies for the distribution of petroleum products are limited it is likely that the giving of priority to tractor vaporising oil may result in temporary shortages here and there of domestic paraffin and petrol but it is not expected that these shortages will occur frequently or on any general scale.
Everybody agrees that there is a great urgency in the matter of the distribution of oil for tractor purposes at the moment but will the Minister make inquiries as to whether it is a fact that there are certain areas in Cork County where the ration of paraffin for household purposes for December, 1946, was delivered only about a week ago and that in some cases it is still outstanding? Surely the Minister realises that that is a very bad position.
It is, undoubtedly, but the position has been improved to a very considerable extent by the arrival of sea-borne cargoes and by augmented rail and road facilities.
Would the Minister say if it would be possible to discharge any oil at Galway Harbour and Westport so that the West may get a supply?
As far as I know, there is no oil installation at Galway or Westport.
They have been absolutely blacked out since Christmas.
The solution would seem to be to introduce double summer time.