asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if he has received representations regarding the scarcity of fuel in the town of Cobh; and if, in view of the grave danger of a fuel famine in the town during the coming winter months, he will take steps to allocate a quantity of coal for domestic use there.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Coal Allocation for Cobh.
I am aware that turf supplies have not been reaching Cobh on a satisfactory level, especially from the point of view of securing reserve stocks to meet the heavy winter demand. Special measures have been taken to effect the necessary improvement, and there is no danger of a fuel famine in the town during the coming winter if merchants make full use of the transport facilities which are now being provided for them. Supplies of coal are not sufficient to permit of an allocation for domestic use in any part of the scheduled turf area.
Would the Minister consider the possibility of abstracting, at certain central depôts or at the port of import, the slack and of getting it briquetted as a very large quantity of the slack which is being sent by him to the manufacturers and consumers one way or another is being wasted because it cannot be used in ordinary furnaces, and so forth, whereas it might very profitably and usefully be used were it briquetted before being distributed?
As far as I know all the briquetting plants in the country are fully employed.
Would the Minister say what special measures he has taken with regard to Cobh?
Special priority has been given with regard to rail transport from Kerry.
Does the Minister appreciate that with the present price of turf in Cork City and the present price of turf in the black market there is no turf available in Cobh? That is the situation. I have sent some correspondence with regard to this matter to the Minister. Now that I am talking about the black market and about the transport available for fuel, I would like to add that when the turf is brought into Cobh it is sold at £5 a ton.
I am aware of the fact that up to now the trouble of the Cobh merchants was not any lack of transport facilities but disagreement about the price. There has, however, been an adjustment in the price which will, no doubt, help to remove the difficulties.
Will the Minister say by whom that adjustment in price was made?
The adjustment in the price was made by me. An increase in the price of turf in the area was sanctioned.
In Cobh the people were already paying 70/- a ton for their turf and does the Minister suggest that he has authorised an increase in that price?
The price has been raised to 75/- per ton.
The people of Cobh who are supposed to be in a turf area pay 75/- per ton, while the people of Cork and Dublin are getting it for 54/- per ton.
There is that disparity between the price of turf in the scheduled turf area and in the nonscheduled turf area. It should, however, be pointed out that in Cork the ration of turf is half a ton for two months, whereas in Cobh there is no ration.
The people of Cobh are taxed in order to provide a subsidy for giving turf cheaper in the non-turf areas.
That is true. The situation is one which cannot be regarded as satisfactory.
It is cock-eyed.
The State has undertaken to provide a ration of turf in areas where for special reasons it is considered impossible for private enterprise to do so. Where private enterprise can do so the Government has left the task to it. If the State were to extend its responsibility and endeavour to provide the turf requirement of the whole country a very considerable extension of powers would be necessary.
Deputy Corry's constituents are getting 5/- of an increase in their price of turf. They are now paying 75/-, while the people of Cork and Dublin pay 54/-.
General Mulcahy did not know Cobh when he came back to it after 15 years, because it was so changed from the derelict town he left in 1932. He even thought he was in Bray.