asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if he is aware that there has been no supply of coal available for domestic use in Tralee town for some weeks past because the quantity brought into the town in recent weeks was sold in bulk quantities ranging from a quarter ton to several tons, thus preventing poor persons from obtaining small quantities of coal, and if he is further aware that large quantities paid for by private persons remained stored in some of the local merchants' yards; and, if so, whether he will consider the necessity of establishing a fuel depot in Tralee town.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Tralee Coal Supplies.
I have received representations regarding a shortage of coal in Tralee. I understand, however, that a solution of the difficulties has been found through appreciable supplies being made available from Cork City merchants. Should these supplies prove inadequate, importing merchants may augment their supplies from the stocks held by Fuel Importers (Éire), Limited. In the circumstances, the necessity to establish a fuel depot in Tralee town does not arise.
Is the Minister aware that there has been a great shortage of coal for the past six months in Tralee, that the merchants are making no attempt to get in coal, and that coal passed through Tralee to outside districts during the last few months and was sold at 11/6 a cwt.? Whatever coal reached the Tralee merchants for the last few months has been sold in quarter-ton, half-ton, two-ton, threeton and four-ton lots to people who have bank accounts, so that poor people are completely deprived of coal. In view of this situation, I would ask the Department to reconsider the question of the establishment of a fuel depot in Tralee or, otherwise, that the coal supply should be rationed and sold in cwts.
That is very like a speech.
I know people who bought coal in large quantities and who did not require it because their fuel houses were full up, thus depriving poor people of a share of the coal.
I found it impossible to follow the whole of the supplementary question, but I think that the important point is that there was an acute shortage of coal in Tralee. Steps were taken to ensure that 1,000 tons of coal would be delivered to Tralee and we shall wait to see how that works out.
I had occasion to go into one place for coal and I could not get it, although I got information from people working with the firm that they had coal stored there for people who had purchased it but did not require delivery.
If any detailed information of that kind with regard to unfair distribution of coal received by merchants in Tralee and the name of the merchant is conveyed to me by the Deputy, I will have it inquired into.
Is it not a fact that Deputy Spring made representations to the Department, to the Parliamentary Secretary and to his predecessor over a period of three months in connection with this matter?
That may or may not be a fact. I am not in a position to answer that at the moment. But the answer I give is that 1,000 tons have been delivered to a town the size of Tralee, possibly as a result of the Deputy's representations.
Could we have an assurance that coal will be rationed out?
Obviously, you cannot have coal rationing in Tralee and not have it nationally applied.
When the supply is not sufficient to meet everybody's requirements, surely steps should be taken to ration it out at least in cwts.
I asked the Deputy if he had any detailed information with regard to the unfair distribution of coal by merchants in Tralee to give me details and the name of the merchants.
He has already done so.
Then the Deputy knows more about it than I do.