asked the Minister for Local Government if he will state, in respect of each county council which engaged in securing turf supplies, for each of the years 1942 to 1946 inclusive; (a) the amount of money borrowed from the banks; (b) the rate of interest charged on this money; (c) the quantity of turf produced; (d) the cost per ton of the turf produced; (e) the price per ton realised; and (f) the actual money loss sustained and passed on to the ratepayers.
Written Answer. - Turf Production—Cost and Quantity.
(a) Particulars of overdrafts on county council turf production accounts have been furnished in reply to questions by Deputy R. Ua Maolchatha on 5th May, 1943, 10th October, 1945, and 6th November, 1946 (Official Report—vol. 89, cols. 2240 and 2241; vol. 98, cols. 46 and 47; vol. 103, cols. 343 and 344).
(b) Since November, 1942, the rate of interest paid has been 3 per cent.
(c) The annual report of the Department of Local Government for 1943-44, appendix XV, shows for each county the total production in 1942 and 1943 as ascertained by sales. Particulars of production for the 1944 season and the estimated production for the 1945 season have been furnished in reply to a question by Deputy J. Larkin on 17th April, 1947 (Official Report—vol. 105, cols. 789, 790 and 791). It is not yet possible to ascertain by sales the particulars of production for the 1946 season as there is still unmoved turf on the bogs.
(d) Particulars of the production costs for the seasons 1942 to 1945 (inclusive) have been furnished in reply to questions by Deputy P. Beegan on 2nd April, 1946 (Official Report—vol. 100, cols. 942, 943 and 944) and Deputy J. Larkin on 17th April, 1947 (Official Report—vol. 105, cols. 786 and 787). The costs for 1946 cannot be ascertained until the balances of turf on hands have been disposed of.
(e) and (f) The full ascertained cost of turf produced by county councils and sold to Fuel Importers (Eire) Limited, Government Departments and other purchasers excluding cost of turf appropriated for councils' road machinery and county institutions will be recouped to county councils and no loss will fall on the ratepayers. The cost to be recouped will include loading and haulage expenses.