asked the Minister for Industry, Trade, Commerce and Tourism if he will make a statement on the successive rises in the price of coal outlining the amount of permitted increase in each case over the last two years and the reasons for each of such increase; and whether or not he has any observations to make as to the adverse effects which such increases are having particularly on the ability of elderly people to adequately heat their own dwellings.
Written Answers. - Price of Coal.
545.
The statement following details the retail price increases approved for coal importers over the past two years indicating also the reasons for the increases.
All the major coal importers are subject to detailed price control and any price increase approved was first the subject of detailed examination by the National Prices Commission. Most of our coal imports are priced in dollar terms and the strengthening of the US dollar over the two years has led to a substantial increase in the cost in Irish pound terms of imports. A further factor was the UK miners' strike which not only curtailed supplies to the Irish market, but by creating a supply shortage in western Europe, enabled an increase in the dollar cost of Polish coal. This latter element is now removed and as a result a significant reduction in certain prices, as shown in the statement, has been effected in recent weeks.
I am satisfied that the price increases approved in the past two years, which were based on recommendations of the National Prices Commission, were justified on the basis of increased costs and were necessary to ensure continued supplies to the Irish market.
Price Increases in Housecoal
|
Region |
Date of Increase |
Amount of Increases (VAT inclusive) per tonne£ |
Reason for Increase (See Explanatory Index at end of Table) |
|
Cork |
May 1983 |
5.08 |
C |
|
January 1984 |
7.31 |
A |
|
|
June 1984 |
3.59 |
A |
|
|
August 1984 |
6.52 |
A |
|
|
October 1984 |
6.30 |
A |
|
|
January 1985 |
9.92 |
A |
|
|
March 1985 |
6.69 |
C |
|
|
May 1985 |
(7.00) |
||
|
price reduction |
A |
||
|
Dublin |
May 1983 |
4.99 |
C |
|
December 1983 |
8.84 |
A/B |
|
|
August 1984 |
3.57 |
A |
|
|
October 1984 |
13.64 |
A/B |
|
|
January 1985 |
10.47 |
A |
|
|
March 1985 |
6.73 |
C |
|
|
May 1985 |
(10.65) |
||
|
price reduction* |
A |
||
|
Dundalk |
May 1983 |
4.14 |
C |
|
March 1984 |
15.39 |
A |
|
|
July 1984 |
5.10 |
A |
|
|
October 1984 |
3.94 |
A |
|
|
November 1984 |
4.08 |
A |
|
|
January 1985 |
15.44 |
A |
|
|
March 1985 |
6.24 |
C |
|
|
Limerick |
May 1983 |
5.18 |
C |
|
January 1984 |
7.19 |
A |
|
|
June 1984 |
3.93 |
A |
|
|
August 1984 |
6.15 |
A |
|
|
October 1984 |
6.30 |
A |
|
|
January 1985 |
9.08 |
A |
|
|
March 1985 |
6.78 |
C |
|
|
May 1985 |
(7.00) |
||
|
price reduction |
A |
||
|
Sligo |
May 1983 |
5.37 |
C |
|
April 1984 |
2.39 |
A |
|
|
June 1984 |
4.08 |
A/B |
|
|
August 1984 |
6.77 |
A |
|
|
November 1984 |
3.86 |
A |
|
|
January 1985 |
16.35 |
A |
|
|
March 1985 |
6.97 |
C |
|
|
May 1985 |
(10.00) |
||
|
price reduction* |
A |
||
|
Tralee |
May 1983 |
5.44 |
C |
|
March 1984 |
0.77 |
B |
|
|
September 1984 |
11.31 |
A |
|
|
January 1985 |
15.77 |
A |
|
|
March 1985 |
6.77 |
C |
|
|
May 1985 |
(5.00) |
||
|
price reduction |
A |
||
|
Waterford |
May 1983 |
5.15 |
C |
|
December 1983 |
6.71 |
A |
|
|
July 1984 |
9.83 |
A/B |
|
|
October 1984 |
7.65 |
A |
|
|
January 1985 |
15.06 |
A |
|
|
March 1985 |
7.02 |
C |
|
|
May 1985 |
(7.70) |
||
|
price reduction |
A |
||
|
Wexford |
May 1983 |
4.84 |
C |
|
February 1984 |
11.67 |
A |
|
|
July 1984 |
6.39 |
A |
|
|
September 1984 |
2.68 |
A |
|
|
October 1984 |
1.60 |
A |
|
|
January 1985 |
16.83 |
A |
|
|
March 1985 |
6.70 |
C |
|
|
May 1985 |
(9.90) |
||
|
price reduction* |
A |
Explanatory Index
A —Increase in CIF cost product price, freight cost and exchange rate movements]
B —Internal Cost Increase importers' distribution costs — wages, overheads, etc.]
C — VAT increases
* — includes reductions implemented for marketing reasons