asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce whether he is aware of the present shortage of fuel in Dublin and the difficulty of obtaining supplies of turf briquettes in shops in Dún Laoghaire and Rathdown, and, if so, if he will ascertain the cause of the shortage and when it is likely to be remedied.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Dublin Fuel Supplies.
asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce whether he is aware that Bord na Móna will not accept orders for turf briquettes from Dublin City traders until the new year; and if he will indicate what steps it is proposed to take to ensure that the maximum number of men are employed on the bogs so as to procure sufficient production and to eliminate the great hardship which lack of turf has brought about in the working-class areas of Dublin City.
I propose, with the permission of the Ceann Comhairle, to take Questions Nos. 20 and 21 together. I would refer the Deputies to the answers given in Dáil Éireann on 7th November, 1956, to a question regarding turf briquettes supply. I am advised by Bord na Móna that the difficulties which have arisen with regard to the supply of turf briquettes are due solely to the fact that demand is greatly in excess of the productive capacity of the board's Lullymore factory. Production of briquettes at Lullymore was increased from 35,000 tons in 1953-54 to almost 41,000 tons in 1955-56. In the present year it is expected that up to 50,000 tons will be produced. As this is the maximum capacity of the Lullymore factory it will not be possible to cater adequately for the increased demand until such time as the new briquetting factories which the Government have decided should be established come into operation. Each of these will be capable of producing 100,000 tons of briquettes a year.
Will the Minister see if some arrangement could be made whereby, while supplies are limited, some supplies will be released as far as possible to city dwellers who have no means of storing fuel? The position is so bad in Dublin at present that many poor people and those living in flats have been without fires recently. If the weather becomes more severe the position of these people will be very bad indeed. If the supplies are limited, would it be possible during the emergency period, to release briquettes which normally go to industrial consumers or institutions which would possibly have alternative sources of supply, to these poor people?
Would the Minister not consider making machine-won turf, which does not require much storage accommodation, available to these people? That would solve Deputy Brady's problem.
Would the Minister, in view of the serious international situation, not reconsider his policy of restricting the capital development programme and reverse that decision particularly as regards Bord na Móna?
All I can say is that for the first time since this State was established two new briquettes factories each costing £900,000 are being established by the direction of this Government. They could have been established 20 years ago but they were not.
In spite of you.
When one tries to give the Opposition information they get quite annoyed.
White elephants.
If the colleagues sitting beside the Deputy had their way these factories would not be built.
The turf would be sold in wet sacks as it was before.
White elephants is a name that originated from that side of the House and that is that. The first time we ever heard of white elephants we heard about them from over there.
Deputy Murphy will restrain himself and allow the Minister to answer the question.
It is hard to restrain oneself sometimes, sir.
I do not know what the board's commitments are in respect of commercial or industrial contracts but it is to honour those commitments that they base their production for the year. Whatever is available over and above these contracts they give to persons who have been customers. People who have been customers get whatever is available and these briquettes are on sale now.
The position is very serious in my constituency. I was talking to a small trader who has built up this trade in briquettes among the poor people. He told me this morning that his normal supply was 10 tons and that for the last fortnight he had been unable to get any at all. Would the Minister make some inquiries in regard to people like that?
I would suggest that the Deputy take up that matter with Bord na Móna.
Is the Minister aware that some large concerns bought in supplies towards the end of the summer and that is the reason that other people are now without supplies?