asked the Minister for Transport and Power if he is aware of the shortage of peat briquettes for sale to the public, which has now continued for some considerable length of time; and if he can give any assurance that the position regarding the supply of these briquettes will be improved during the coming winter season.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Supply of Briquettes.
15.
I am aware that there has been a shortage of briquettes owing to the adverse weather conditions which made it impossible for Bord na Móna to reach its milled peat production target.
I am informed by Bord na Móna that during the 1966 harvesting season production of milled peat for the generation of electricity and briquette manufacture while greater than last year, was still unsatisfactory.
Even after taking into account an arrangement with the ESB under which allocations of milled peat for the generation of electricity have been cut to a minimum, the amount of milled peat available for briquetting will not be sufficient to maintain full factory production for the whole of the coming year.
The Board expect that the quantities of briquettes available for sale to the public during the coming season will be about 30 per cent higher than last year and that during the peak winter months supplies will be about 50 per cent higher than during the same months last year.
Does the Minister not agree that the market for peat briquettes could have been easily satisfied and that we could have briquettes for export, if the Minister had gone ahead with the erection of the new briquette factory at Shannonbridge?
Weather conditions made it impossible to reach the target in any event and an examination of the four briquette factories is taking place to ensure the economic running of the factories in the light of modern conditions. The weather has been very adverse in the past two years, with heavy rainfall followed by low temperatures. Bord na Móna are taking every step possible to see whether by changing technical methods, they can overcome these difficulties.
Did the Minister say there will be a 30 per cent increase in briquettes available to dealers and shopkeepers and so on during the winter?
Thirty per cent higher during the whole winter and 50 per cent during the main winter months.