asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if he will indicate the present position regarding the supply of cement and other building materials; whether those factories in this country engaged in the production of building materials are working their maximum output and if this output is sufficient to meet the demands of the building trade, especially those engaged in the erection of houses for letting at reasonable rents; if not, will he state what measures he proposes to take to provide materials sufficient to meet the demand for housing accommodation.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Supplies of Building Materials.
Mr. A. Byrne
The current demand for cement has outstripped the productive capacity of the factories of Cement, Limited, but the shortage has not been allowed to impede house-building work, as I have taken steps to ensure that any person who is granted a licence for the erection of houses will receive the quantities of cement required for that purpose.
Other building materials are scarce in varying degrees, but the shortages are not so acute as to interfere seriously with the housing programme.
Everything possible is being done to assist firms engaged in the production of building materials and to supplement, by imports, the deficits in home production of cement and other building materials so as to ensure that all building work, and particularly the building of small dwellings, will proceed at as rapid a rate as possible.
asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if he is aware that there is a widespread dissatisfaction in the building trade owing to inadequate supplies of cement and if he will state approximately what percentage of the country's requirements can be met from the present output of our cement factories; also what supplies have been imported from abroad recently or are likely to be imported in the near future and what system of priority his Department has adopted so as to ensure the equitable distribution of the amount of cement available.
The extent of the present deficiency in supplies is not easy to estimate, but it is probable that if supplies could be increased by a further 10 per cent. or 15 per cent., all demands could be satisfied.
Since the beginning of February, 4,800 tons of cement have been imported. Efforts are being made to secure by importation enough cement to supply all demands but currency and other difficulties may limit the amount which can be secured in this way, and no reliable estimate can be given of what future imports will amount to.
To persons engaged on work which cannot be interrupted without loss to the community, special certificates are issued which secure for the holders enough cement to complete the work on which they are engaged.
All the Emergency Powers Orders relating to the distribution of cement were revoked with effect from 6th September, 1947. It was found, however, towards the end of the year that, although the factories were producing cement to the limit of their capacity, the supply was not equal to the increased demand and on the 16th January, 1948, control of distribution was reintroduced.