Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 8 Dec 1998

Vol. 498 No. 1

Written Answers. - Building Material Imports.

John V. Farrelly

Question:

82 Mr. Farrelly asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the number of clay bricks imported from the United Kingdom and Europe for the year 1997 and to date in 1998 to the equivalent of the Irish standard IS.98 (1983) or to BS.3921 (1985); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26610/98]

Minister of State at the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment (Mr. T. Kitt)

I presume the Deputy has in mind Irish standard IS. 91 (1983) which relates to clay bricks. The specific data sought by the Deputy is not available from the Central Statistics Office. However the statistics on clay bricks are included with those for building blocks.

In 1997 a total volume of 33,928,485kg (value IR£1,369,188) of building blocks and clay bricks was imported, with 33,384,669kg (IR£926,268) being imported from Northern Ireland. The volume of imports from Great Britain was 539,302kg (value IR£441,250). The volume of imports from Germany was 2,137kg (value IR£1,341) in the same period.

Figures are available up to the end of July 1998. A total volume of 21,662,779kg (value IR£973,019) of building blocks and clay bricks was imported. The volume of imports from Northern Ireland was 21,193,612kg (value IR£566,675) and from Great Britain was 389,295kg (value IR£403,795). Imports from France and Italy were 40,960kg (value IR£896) and 38,912kg (value IR£1,654), respectively.