asked the Minister for Local Government and Public Health if he is aware that the Killaloe quarries cannot deliver slates of any size sooner than three or four months from date of order and the same applies to the Carrick-on-Suir slate quarries, and if he is prepared to indicate other sources of supply for Irish slates or waive the provisions requiring persons to use Irish slates in order to qualify for benefits under the Housing (Financial and Miscellaneous Provisions) Act, 1932.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Irish Slates Supply.
I am anxious to develop slate quarries to the maximum extent. The present output of the slate quarries does not, however, meet fully the requirements of persons constructing houses. Every effort to increase the output is being made. Concrete tile manufacturers are accelerating production of this alternative and quite satisfactory form of roofing.
The Minister has not, perhaps, had his attention directed to my question. My question was to the effect that in view of the inability of certain quarries to deliver slates, is he prepared to indicate other sources of supply for Irish slates or else waive the provisions requiring persons to use Irish slates in order to qualify for benefits under the Housing Act.
In cases where it is shown that bona fide steps have been taken to secure roofing material of Saorstát manufacture and it is found that such cannot be procured, while I am not anxious to be over-generous in facilitating such people, I will have to do so. I will have to give some facilities in cases where it is definitely shown Irish slates cannot be got.
I would like to assure the Minister that there is no anxiety here to depart from the provisions of the Act. May I enquire whether the Minister is aware that builders' providers have been informed by the agents for the Killaloe and the Carrick-on-Suir slate quarries that no order can be entertained for fulfilment for less than four months? It is stated that the Killaloe quarry has orders which will test its capacity for at least three or four years. In view of that fact, and in order to expedite the construction of houses through the country, will the Minister give some general indication that people may safely go forward with the building of their houses without any apprehension that the grant will be withheld from them if they are unable to procure Irish slates? Is the Minister aware—he ought to know it through his officials— that it is absolutely impossible to get supplies of Irish roofing materials? I am aware that those interested in the building industry have done all that possibly could be done to get Irish roofing material and they have not been successful.
I am not quite satisfied that it is absolutely impossible to get Irish roofing materials. I know there is great difficulty in getting Irish slates. The Deputy mentioned only two slate quarries. There are quite a number of others. There is one, for instance in his own constituency and I am told that in that slate quarry there is a large quantity of slates of a smaller size that could be used. I am anxious to have every available article of Saorstát manufacture used up first before I give anybody facilities to use foreign manufactured articles.
Is the Minister aware that I brought a number of persons, prominent in the financial world, to the slate quarry to which he has referred with a view to getting it developed by private enterprise? I may assure the Minister we are at present endeavouring to have that development carried out. I am quite well aware of the existence of that particular quarry and I am doing all I can to have the resources there developed. In the meantime, in order to serve the paramount interests of housing, it might be advisable if the Minister would waive the provisions requiring persons to use Irish slates in order to qualify for the grant. He might do so temporarily and later on, if he thought it desirable, he could impose them rigorously. Otherwise he is going to hold up housing construction considerably and I am sure that is not the policy of the Minister or the Government.
I am not anxious to do anything that will hold up housing. I am not anxious, either, to facilitate anybody in the getting of foreign manufactured articles so long as I feel there is any chance of getting articles of Irish manufacture. Where it is definitely shown to me that suitable roofing material of Saorstát manufacture is not available, there will be no obstacles put in the way of people anxious to complete their houses.
Can the Minister tell us of any Irish slate quarry that has slates to deliver at the present time?
Mr. Brodrick
I am aware of numbers of houses where the timber work on the roof has been completed for months and the builders cannot get any Irish slates. The completion of these houses is consequently held up. Are there not several contracts under the auspices of the Board of Works being held up in a like fashion?
I am not aware of it. If the Deputy will give me particulars of any such case I will enquire personally into the matter.
Mr. Brodrick
If the Minister makes inquiries from the housing section of the Local Government Department and also from the Board of Works he will find out that what I say is quite correct.
That is not my information. If the Deputy submits any case of that kind to me I will inquire into it. I am sure Deputies will recognise that I have not the time to go on roving commissions in order to ascertain information of the kind indicated.
Will the Deputies who are in trouble about obtaining slates make inquiries amongst the several slate quarries in West Cork?