asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if he is aware of reports that reserve stores to the value of about £1,000,000 held by C.I.E. may possibly be obsolete following the widespread adoption of diesel rail traction by that company; and, if so, if he will suggest to the board the desirability of marketing this material in other countries so that its value may be realised and further loss to the concern through selling it as scrap avoided.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Reserve Stores of C.I.E.
The answer is in the negative. C.I.E. inform me that thevalue of the stores held by them, which are directly associated with steam traction, is about £275,000 and not £1,000,000 as suggested in the question; and that, in the main, these stores represent minimum needs for the maintenance of steam traction. The board propose to dispose of any stores which may become surplus during the gradual change over to diesel traction to railway undertakings and other users.