Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 8 Feb 1956

Vol. 154 No. 1

Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Heating of Government Buildings.

Mr. Breen

asked the Minister for Finance if he will state, in respect of each of the last three years, the amount of imported fuel used for heating (a) Leinster House, (b) Government Buildings, (c) the Office of Public Works, (d) the Department of External Affairs, (e) the Department of Education, (f) the Department of Lands, (g) Dublin Castle, (h) the Custom House, (i) Árus an Uachtaráin, and (j) the various Social Welfare offices.

Mr. Donnellan

The reply is in the form of a tabular statement which, with the permission of the Ceann Comhairle, it is proposed to circulate with the Official Report.

Following is the statement:—

STATEMENT SHOWING THE QUANTITIES IN TONS OF IMPORTED AND NATIVE FUELS ISSUED TO THE ESTABLISHMENTS NAMED DURING THE THREE YEARS 1952-53, 1953-54 AND 1954-55.

Year	Leinster House and Government Buildings (Central Heating Station)	Office of Public Works	Department of External Affairs	Department of Education	Department of Lands	Dublin Castle	Custom House	Árus an Uachtaráin	Department of Social Welfare
	Imported Fuel	Native Fuel	Imported Fuel	Native Fuel	Imported Fuel	Native Fuel	Imported Fuel	Native Fuel	Imported Fuel	Native Fuel	Imported Fuel	Native Fuel	Imported Fuel	Native Fuel	Imported Fuel	Native Fuel	Imported Fuel	Native Fuel
	Tons	Tons	Tons	Tons	Tons	Tons	Tons	Tons	Tons	Tons	Tons	Tons	Tons	Tons	Tons	Tons	Tons	Tons
1952-53	1,800	100	17	177	20	82	130	459	86	908	207	831	157	200	138	50	67	153
1953-54	1,820	836	—	266	20	143	162	379	95	983	438	807	416	187	129	54	313	55
1954-55	1,650	810	7	510	7	248	210	549	168	1,506	312	1,264	186	832	128	36	356	203

NOTE.—The above figures do not represent actual consumption in the years indicated, as varying balances of stocks are carried over from year to year.

Mr. Breen

asked the Minister for Finance whether he is aware that, if native fuel is used, a saving of 20 per cent. can be made in expenditure on the heating of Government offices and buildings, and, if so, what action he proposes to take in the matter.

Mr. Donnellan

It is the general policy to use native fuels to the greatest possible extent for purposes of heating in Government offices and buildings and quantitatively the amount of native fuels used is very much greater than the amounts of imported fuel. By reference to current prices the use of native fuels does not result in any saving in cost. Experiments have already been carried out with varying degrees of success on devices designed to facilitate the use of turf in central heating plants. A claim that anthracite (waste) could be utilised in suitable cases with a resultant saving in cost is at present being investigated.