asked the Minister for Industry, Commerce and Energy if he is aware of the serious lack of supplies of cement in County Donegal and the resulting serious repercussions for the building industry there, where suppliers can receive no satisfactory guarantees, either from manufacturers or CIE, as to when adequate supplies will be available; and if he is further aware that suppliers who are importing cement from Northern Ireland now find the cost exorbitant due to the currency differences.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - County Donegal Cement Supplies.
17.
I have not received any complaints about a lack of supplies of cement in County Donegal but I have been in touch with Irish Cement Ltd. about the difficulties mentioned by the Deputy and they have informed me that, while there have been delays recently in regard to some deliveries of cement in County Donegal, there has not, nevertheless, been any serious lack of supplies of cement in that area. The delays in delivery have been caused, in the main, by transport problems which the company is taking steps to remedy. I am not aware that the differences in the exchange rates as between the Irish pound and sterling is creating any major problem for cement suppliers in County Donegal.