asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if he will state, with reference to the alcohol factories: (a) the monthly intake of potatoes, for each of the factories, since 1st January, 1947; (b) the aggregate quantity of alcohol produced monthly over the same period; (c) how such alcohol was utilised; and (d) the percentage quantity of alcohol used in petrol and the relative prices of both articles.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Alcohol Factories.
A statement containing the information desired by the Deputy will be circulated with the Official Report.
The statement is as follows:—
(a) The quantities of potatoes accepted by the industrial alcohol factories during the months of January, 1947, to May, 1947, were as follows (quantities given to nearest ton)—
|
Factory |
January |
February |
March |
April |
May |
Totals |
|
Tons |
Tons |
Tons |
Tons |
Tons |
Tons |
|
|
Cooley |
811 |
795 |
336 |
Nil |
408 |
2,350 |
|
Carrickmacross |
678 |
93 |
Nil |
Nil |
Nil |
771 |
|
Carndonagh |
349 |
129 |
Nil |
Nil |
Nil |
478 |
|
Labbadish |
498 |
44 |
Nil |
Nil |
Nil |
542 |
|
Corroy |
Nil |
Nil |
Nil |
Nil |
Nil |
Nil |
|
2,336 |
1,061 |
336 |
Nil |
408 |
4,141 |
(b) The aggregate quantity of denatured industrial alcohol (power Methylated Spirits) produced monthly over the period was:—
|
1947 |
Gallons |
|
January |
130,788 |
|
February |
94,932 |
|
March |
60,228 |
|
April |
47,703 |
|
May |
nil |
|
Total |
333,651 |
In addition, quantities of potable alcohol amounting to 3,152 gallons were produced in May, 1947.
(c) The quantities produced and the quantities delivered on sale in a particular period do not, of course, exactly correspond. Quantities of denatured industrial alcohol, amounting to 361,548 gallons, were delivered to petrol distributors during the months of January to May, 1947 (inclusive), for blending with mineral hydrocarbon light oils for the purpose of producing motor fuel therefrom.
In addition, quantities of industrial alcohol, amounting to 635 gallons, were delivered during the same period to hospitals, laboratories and manufacturing chemists.
No deliveries of potable alcohol were made during the period to which the question relates.
(d) As regards, the proportions in which industrial alcohol and petrol are blended, the Minister for Industry and Commerce has power under the Industrial Alcohol Act, 1938, to make regulations in relation to the blending by distributors of industrial alcohol and mineral hydrocarbon light oils for the purpose of producing motor fuel therefrom. No such regulations have so far been made and I am not, therefore, in a position to say in what proportions the two fuels are, in fact, blended.
The price of industrial alcohol, sold for blending with petrol by the petrol distributors, is, at present, 7/6 per gallon.
Petrol prices are as follows:—
|
Dublin Zone |
Remainder of the State |
|||
|
Per gallon |
Per gallon |
|||
|
s. |
d. |
s. |
d. |
|
|
Sold and delivered in sealed two gallon containers or in steel barrels |
2 |
1 |
2 |
2 |
|
In any other case |
2 |
0½ |
2 |
1½ |