asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce whether he is aware that no turf bogs exist in-County Wexford; and, if so, whether he will state the steps being taken to have turf transported from other areas and stored in dumps at different suitable centres for use in the coming winter and the name of the organisation that it is proposed to use to transport and store the required amount of turf.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Turf for County Wexford.
It is not at present proposed to have turf transported and stored in dumps. It is hoped that sufficient supplies of coal from Britain, the Continent and the United States, together with turf, will be available to prevent hardship in any area.
Is it Government policy that no turf will be transported and stored in those areas of Leinster where no local turf is available? Are we to take it that that is to be Government policy in respect of turf production in the present year?
It is anticipated that adequate supplies of coal and turf will be available. The Deputy will appreciate that the present high transport costs would make turf uneconomic in non-turf areas, if large quantities had to be transported, and it is in order to obviate that position, so long as circumstances remain as they are, that it has been decided that it is not in the interests of the consumers that turf should be hauled long distances.
Is he satisfied that the Government are safe in planning to store no turf in the Leinster counties?
There will be turf in the Leinster counties.
It will have to be brought into them. With regard to the seaboard counties of Leinster, and particularly Wexford and Dublin, is it Government policy to have no turf brought in from the Midlands for storage in these counties?
Turf can be brought in, but it is not the intention at this stage to establish dumps in these counties.
When will they be established?
If the present supply position remains as it is, the necessity for establishing dumps in places such as the Deputy has in mind is not likely to arise.