asked the Minister for Transport and Power whether his attention has been drawn to press reports that during February there were record outputs of turf briquettes by Bord na Móna; whether he is aware that at the same time fuel merchants were being rationed to seventy per cent. of their last year's supply of briquettes; and if he will state the amount of briquettes exported by Bord na Móna during the month of February, and the reason why fuel merchants were rationed in this way.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Supply of Turf Briquettes.
11.
Bord na Móna confirm that output of briquettes in February, 1964, constituted a record.
Nevertheless owing to growth in the demand from industrial and institutional users to whom Bord na Móna have contractual commitments it has been necessary to limit supplies to fuel merchants to approximately 70 per cent of their 1962-3 intake. Deputies will be glad to know that plans are being formulated for a fourth briquette factory.
The Board say that the quantity of briquettes exported in February, 1964, was 2,007 tons; that exports are almost entirely to Northern Ireland fuel merchants and that they are treated on the same basis as merchants within the State. In fact total exports in 1963-64 were marginally less than in the preceding year.