asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if he will considerrecommending to Bord na Móna the desirability of their setting up a distribution section within the framework of their organisation with a view to enabling prospective purchasers to purchase turf produced by Bord na Móna and also hand-won turf in such quantities as they may desire.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Purchasing of Turf.
I have no information that difficulties have been experienced by prospective purchasers in obtaining supplies of turf whether hand-won or of Bord na Móna production, and I would not, therefore, feel justified in making any recommendation to Bord na Móna on the lines suggested in the question.
Is the Minister not aware that each year Bord na Móna experience great difficulty in getting rid of the quantity of machine turf they produce and, furthermore, in the present year they were unable to sell quantities of turf which they produced on many bogs and at the present moment they are selling this turf at 24/- per ton less than it costs to produce; and, in view of that, would the Minister not envisage that some marketing section be set up within Bord na Móna to ensure that the turf they produce is sold in lots the people can use at their convenience?
Hear, hear! Would the Minister not recommend to the board that canvassers be employed for the purpose of making an advance canvass of prospective purchasers, thereby giving the board an opportunity of estimating the quantity which would be required?
In my view Bord na Móna should have no function whatever in selling hand-won turf.
Hand-won and machine turf.
They are responsible for selling the turf that they have produced themselves.
Even in respect of the turf that they produce themselves in quantities, as they cannot sell it.
I do not like to have to do this but, with your permission, Sir, I wish to raise this matter on the Adjournment, as it is a serious thing for rural Ireland.