asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if his attention has been drawn to reports published in certain newspapers concerning the efforts of the British Government, through the Secretary of State for Scotland, to prevent the purchasing of Irish slates by the Glasgow Corporation, and whether in the event of the Glasgow Corporation ceasing to use Irish slates in consequence of such efforts he will discuss with the Department of Local Government and Public Health the prohibition of the use of foreign slates on housing schemes promoted by local authorities.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Irish Slates in Scotland.
I have already taken up with the Minister for Local Government and Public Health the question of the most appropriate measures for promoting the use of Irish slates in housing schemes of local authorities in substitution for imported roofing material whether slates or otherwise. I may add that a large use of Irish slates has been made on the Shannon Power Works.
Would the Minister take an opportunity of conveying to the Dáil the result of his discussion with the Minister for Local Government and Public Health?
Not on that special question. It is tied up with a lot of other matters.
Is the Minister aware that there has been one case mentioned in the recently published reports of the Local Government Department where an hospital was built in Cork and covered with Bangor slates, which is strange, considering that there are slates handy in the immediate neighbourhood or at all events not very far away? Will the Minister take up that question?
The question of the suitability of a particular type of slate for a particular type of building comes in as well as the question of economy in the matter of price. You cannot have a general rule in such matters.