asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if he is aware that there is a substantial amount of turf of good quality in the Rathangan area of County Kildare for which the owners can find no market; and if he will take steps to have such turf purchased immediately by the Electricity Supply Board or Bord na Móna for use at Allenwood or Portarlington.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - County Kildare Turf.
I understand that there are some relatively small quantities of hand-won turf at present unsold in the Rathangan area of County Kildare. I would, however, refer the Deputy to the statement of Government policy in relation to the disposal of this year's hand-won turf crop, which was set out in an official announcement issued to the Press on 14th June last.
That statement was issued in order, firstly, that producers would take advantage of any market offering while conditions are favourable; secondly, that producers would know the market prospects and realise that there is nothing to gain by holding back stocks in the hope of higher prices; thirdly, that they would be aware that the services of the turf marketing section of Bord na Móna are available, free of charge, to assist them in marketing their production; and, finally, that if they had unsold turf on hands at the end of the winter, they had an assured market for such supplies at the price it would normally command at that time.
Should the necessity arise, that market will be provided for producers in Rathangan or any other area.
Is the Minister aware that this is not a question of these people holding back supplies? The position is that they cannot get anyone to buy the turf from them at any price. In view of that will the Minister take steps to ensure that Bord na Móna will step in before the end of the winter? Otherwise, the people concerned will not be in a position to live until the winter is over.
That is not my information. I am informed, as a result of inquiries made by the board's officers, that the turf is moving at a weekly rate which should clear the available supply before the end of the season.
Moving at a weekly rate?
There is, I gather, one producer in the area who is withholding his turf in the expectation that the price that will be paid for it through a Government agency at the end of the season will be higher than the prevailing prices. He has been advised that that is not likely to be the case, and so I take it he will change his policy.
I have no means of asking across the floor of the House whether it is the same person that I am speaking about. I know there is one producer there who has 150 tons for sale. It has been offered to the Electricity Supply Board, to Bord na Móna and to the Department of Defence at the Curragh, and he cannot get anyone to buy it. I can give the Minister the details privately.
And I will give the Deputy the facts.