Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 13 Mar 1975

Vol. 279 No. 4

Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Bread Prices.

12.

Mr. Lemass

asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if he will state the price of loaves of bread of comparable size in each of the last three years to date.

Mr. Bruton

The information requested by the Deputy is in the form of a tabular statement which, with the permission of the Ceann Comhairle, I propose to have circulated with the Official Report.

Following is the statement:

TABULAR STATEMENT

RETAIL prices of bread as fixed by Maximum Prices Orders

Date on which price came into operation	Weight of bread
400 gms.	800 gms.	1,250 gms.	1,600 gms.
Unwrapped:
1st January 1972 (only fixed by Maximum Prices Order from 28th September 1972)	7p	13p	—	26p
	(1 lb. loaf i.e. 454 gms.)	(2 lb. loaf i.e. 908 gms.)		(4 lb. loaf i.e. 1,816 gms.)
3rd September 1973 (Weight of bread converted to metric from this date)	6p	11½p	—	23p
16th January 1974	6½p	12½p	—	24p
22nd March 1974	7½p	14p	21½p	27p
27th June 1974	8p	15½p	23½p	30p
18th September 1974	9p	17½p	26½p	34p
2nd November 1974	9½p	18p	27p	35p
6th March 1975	11p	20p	30p	39p
Wrapped (Sliced and Unsliced):
1st January 1972 (only fixed by Maximum Prices Order from 28th September 1972)	7½p	13½p	—	27p
	(1 lb. loaf i.e. 454 gms.)	(2 lb. loaf i.e. 908 gms.)		(4 lb. loaf i.e. 1,816 gms.)
3rd September 1973 (Weight of bread converted to metric from this date)	6½p	12p	—	24p
16th January 1974	7p	13p	—	25p
22nd March 1974	8p	14½p	22½p	28p
27th June 1974	8½p	16p	24½p	31p
18th September 1974	9½p	18p	27½p	35p
2nd November 1974	10½p	19p	29p	37p
6th March 1975	12p	21p	32p	41p

Mr. Lemass

Can the Parliamentary Secretary say whether there is an application before the Department for a further increase in bread prices?

An Ceann Comhairle

That is a separate question.

Mr. Bruton

I understand the price increase effected on 6th March was concerned with cost increases in relation to wax paper, wages, motor expenses and flour prices. The commission have under investigation at the moment a further application in relation to the improvement of the profit margin of the bakers and I understand a report commissioned by the National Prices Commission in relation to this matter will be available to them towards the end of March and a decision will then be taken on that by the commission. I would not wish to anticipate what the commission may decide.

Mr. Lemass

Would the Parliamentary Secretary ask the Minister to consider the introduction of a subsidy on this essential commodity?

An Ceann Comhairle

That is a separate matter.

Mr. J. Lynch

Could the Parliamentary Secretary indicate the number of times a price increase has been granted in the period mentioned in the question?

Mr. Bruton

Eight.

Mr. G. Fitzgerald

Has the date of the order, 6th March, any bearing on the Galway by-election which was two days afterwards?