asked the Taoiseach, with regard to any body, semi-State body, authority or agency under his authority, if sanction has been given during 1969, 1970, 1971 or 1972 for the installation of heating or boiler equipment not using native fuel which would be a departure from the policy of using native fuel as outlined in paragraph 9 of the White Paper of January, 1946, on the turf development programme.
Written Answers. - Use of Native Fuel.
152.
As regards An Chomhairle Ealaín, the only body under my authority concerned, the answer is "No".
153.
asked the Minister for Health, with regard to any body, semi-State body, authority, or agency under his authority, if sanction has been given during 1969, 1970, 1971 or 1972 for the installation of heating or boiler equipment not using native fuel which would be a departure from the policy of using native fuel as outlined in paragraph 9 of the White Paper of January 1946 on the turf development programme.
In so far as health institutions are concerned paragraph 9 of the White Paper issued in 1946 on the turf development programme indicated that it was intended that in turf areas local authorities should be required to use turf in new institutions and in other areas that boiler plant using solid fuel should be so designed as to permit the efficient and economical use of turf as a fuel unless the Minister considered that, for any reason, turf would not be a suitable fuel. In pursuance of this policy local health authorities have been urged over the years to give preference to native fuels, including turf. The use of native fuels may not always be practicable, for technical or economic reasons and approval was given in a limited number of instances to the use of oil following consultation with Bord na Móna. The approval given in those cases, however, did not constitute a departure from the White Paper provisions as referred to by the Deputy.
154.
asked the Minister for Transport and Power with regard to any body, semi-State body, authority or agency under his authority if sanction has been given during 1969, 1970, 1971 or 1972 for the installation of heating or boiler equipment not using native fuel which would be a departure from the policy of using native fuel as outlined in paragraph 9 of the White Paper of January, 1946, on the turf development programme.
No sanction was given during any of the years mentioned which would be a departure from the policy of using native fuel as outlined in paragraph 9 of the White Paper of January, 1946.
In cases not covered by paragraph 9 of the White Paper, it is my existing policy to endeavour to ensure that to the utmost practical extent native fuels should be used in all organisations which I am in a position to influence in this regard. Last year I appointed a committee to inquire into the working of this policy and to recommend any changes considered desirable. The committee has not yet reported.
155.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare with regard to any body, semi-State body, authority, or agency under his authority, if sanction has been given during 1969, 1970, 1971 or 1972 for the installation of heating or boiler equipment not using native fuel which would be a departure from the policy of using native fuel as outlined in paragraph 9 of the White Paper of January, 1946, on the turf development programme.
There is no such body, authority or agency under my authority.
156.
asked the Minister for Labour with regard to any body, semi-State body, authority, or agency under his authority, if sanction has been given during 1969, 1970, 1971 or 1972 for the installation of heating or boiler equipment not using native fuel which would be a departure from the policy of using native fuel as outlined in paragraph 9 of the White Paper of January, 1946, on the turf development programme.
No sanction was given by me in these years which was a departure from the policy outlined in paragraph 9 of the White Paper on the turf development programme issued in January, 1946.
157.
asked the Minister for Finance with regard to any body, semi-State body, authority, or agency under his authority, if sanction has been given during 1969, 1970, 1971, or 1972 for the installation of heating or boiler equipment not using native fuel which would be a departure from the policy of using native fuel as outlined in paragraph 9 of the White Paper of January, 1946, on the turf development programme.
Arrangements for the installation of heating or boiler equipment by those of the bodies mentioned in the Deputy's question for which I am responsible are a matter of day-to-day administration by the bodies concerned and I have no function in this respect.
158.
asked the Minister for the Gaeltacht with regard to any body, semi-State body, authority, or agency under his authority, if sanction has been given during 1969, 1970, 1971 or 1972 for the installation of heating or boiling equipment not using native fuel which would be a departure from the policy of using native fuel as outlined in paragraph 9 of the White Paper of January, 1946, on the turf development programme.
Níor tugadh a leithéid de cheadú.
159.
asked the Minister for Education with regard to any body, semi-State body, authority, or agency under his authority, if sanction has been given during 1969, 1970, 1971 or 1972 for the installation of heating or boiler equipment not using native fuel which would be a departure from the policy of using native fuel as outlined in paragraph 9 of the White Paper of January, 1946, on the turf development programme.
Every effort is made to ensure that to the utmost practicable extent native fuel is used in buildings in respect of which grants are sanctioned by my Department. There are a number of cases where, due to site problems, other problems associated with fuel supply and cost considerations the use of oil has been sanctioned.
The following is a list of cases where the installation of oil fired heating systems was sanctioned during the period 1969-1972, as an exceptional matter:
Trinity College, Dublin;
National College of Physical Education, Limerick;
Scoil Choimsitheach an Chorráin, Dooradoyle;
Crescent Comprehensive School, Limerick;
Town of Wexford Vocational School;
Ballinasloe Vocational School;
New Inn Vocational School (County Galway);
Aille Thiar Vocational School (County Galway);
Tuam Vocational School;
Milford Vocational School (County Donegal);
Trim Vocational School.
160.
asked the Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries with regard to any body, semi-State body, authority or agency under his authority, if sanction has been given during 1969, 1970, 1971 or 1972 for the installation of heating or boiler equipment not using native fuel which would be a departure from the policy of using native fuel as outlined in paragraph 9 of the White Paper of January, 1946, on the turf development programme.
The only sanction given during the years mentioned was in respect of the Veterinary College of Ireland in Dublin. Arising from the severe contraction in supplies of homeproduced coke it was decided on the basis of technical advice to convert the central heating system there from coke to oil.
161.
asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce with regard to any body, semi-State body, authority, or agency under his authority, if sanction has been given during 1969, 1970, 1971 or 1972 for the installation of heating or boiler equipment not using native fuel which would be a departure from the policy of using native fuel as outlined in paragraph 9 of the White Paper of January, 1946, on the turf development programme.
No sanction was given during any of the years mentioned to any of the bodies, semi-State bodies, authorities, or agencies under the aegis of my Department for the installation of heating or boiler equipment not using native fuel.
162.
asked the Minister for Justice with regard to any body, semi-State body, authority, or agency under his authority, if sanction has been given during 1969, 1970, 1971 or 1972 for the installation of heating or boiler equipment not using native fuel which would be a departure from the policy of using native fuel as outlined in paragraph 9 of the White Paper of January, 1946, on the turf development programme.
The answer is that there are no bodies of the kind envisaged in the question under the aegis of my Department.
163.
asked the Minister for Defence with regard to any body, semi-State body, authority, or agency under his authority, if sanction has been given during 1969, 1970, 1971 or 1972 for the installation of heating or boiler equipment not using native fuel which would be a departure from the policy of using native fuel as outlined in paragraph 9 of the White Paper of January, 1946, on the turf development programme.
The following relevant sanctions were given in my Department in the years mentioned:
(1) in 1971 for the installation of an oil fired central heating system in the new cadet accommodation building at Dún Uí Mhaoilíosa, Galway; (2) in 1972 for the installation of similar systems in the new billet buildings at the Army Apprentice School, Naas, and in the billet block, Dún Chostuim, Athlone.
164.
asked the Minister for Local Government with regard to any body, semi-State body, authority, or agency under his authority, if sanction has been given during 1969, 1970, 1971 or 1972 for the installation of heating or boiler equipment not using native fuel which would be a departure from the policy of using native fuel as outlined in paragraph 9 of the White Paper of January, 1946, on the turf development programme.
As regards local authority houses mentioned in section (b) of paragraph 9, where solid fuel ranges, grates or stoves are installed in turf producing areas, they are, as a general rule, capable of using turf efficiently and economically. There has been no departure from policy in this regard.
Local authorities were urged in circular letters issued in the 1950s to ensure that to the utmost extent practicable, native fuels would be used in preference to imported fuel.
In regard to libraries the position is that modern major branch libraries have either oil fired or electrical central heating systems. The hours during which libraries are open to the public are normally staggered and do not correspond to the hours of use of a normal office. Solid fuel systems would not in general be suitable for this reason.
In so far as swimming pools are concerned, the matter does not arise as the equipment does not use solid fuel.
The only local authority buildings involved appear to be those in Ballina, Carlow, Longford, Limerick and Laois and from a perusal of the relevant proposals for these schemes, the question of the use of solid fuel did not arise.
165.
asked the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs with regard to any body, semi-State body, authority, or agency under his authority, if sanction has been given during 1969, 1970, 1971 or 1972 for the installation of heating or boiler equipment not using native fuel which would be a departure from the policy of using native fuel as outlined in paragraph 9 of the White Paper of January, 1946, on the turf development programme.
Radio Telefís Éireann is the only such body for which I have responsibility and it does not require my sanction for installations of this kind. I understand, however, that prior to proceeding with the installation of oil-fired heating at Donnybrook in 1971, RTE consulted Bord na Móna which had no objection to the proposal.