asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce whether, in view of the fact that all efforts to dispose of the surplus hand-won turf of the 1951 crop in County Kerry have failed and that there is now no prospect whatever of its being sold commercially, he will reconsider his attitude in the matter and have investigated the possibility of this turf being used by State or semi-State organisations, or, alternatively, indicate what additional measures he now proposes to deal with the problem.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Disposal of Hand-Won Turf (County Kerry).
I have had inquiries made into the situation regarding the 1951 crop of hand-won turf. The facts are that:—
(a) according to the best estimates possible, about 46,000 tons of turf were produced for sale in County Kerry, and, with the exception of 4,000 tons, all this turf had been sold at the end of April;
(b) no problems have arisen regarding the disposal of turf produced for sale in North or East Kerry;
(c) of the 4,000 tons still unsold about 2,500 tons are located in the Cahirciveen peninsula and, of the latter quantity, it is understood that about one-third is either unfit for immediate sale or inaccessible; and
(d) sales are still taking place and will so continue until about the end of June, the normal close of the sales season.
In the circumstances the necessity has not yet arisen for taking any additional steps to implement the guarantee given to producers by the Government in regard to the disposal of last year's hand-won turf.