asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if he is aware that the prices quoted by turf suppliers for the delivery of turf in Dublin to the order of the Dublin Board of Public Assistance are 38/4 a ton in the old city area and 40/- a ton in such other parts of their administrative area as Rathmines and Pembroke; whether he will state the causes of these high prices; what steps, if any, he has taken to have them reduced; how much of this money per ton goes to the original owner or cutter of the turf; how much of it goes to the railway, canal or other transport company; and how much of it goes to the distributing agency.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Turf Prices in Dublin.
The only turf available in large quantities, for delivery in Dublin in connection with the free fuel scheme, is machine turf, the source of supply of which is outside the limit to which the canal freight of 6/- per ton, arranged under the peat development scheme, applies. As a result of steps taken by my Department the price of this turf ex-works and the cost of canal transport have been substantially reduced. The price of machine turf at the wharf in Dublin of the Turraun Peat Company is 26/8 per ton. This figure is made up as follows:—
|
s. |
d. |
|
|
Turf ex-Works |
15 |
0 |
|
Sacks |
0 |
8 |
|
Covering Charge |
0 |
6 |
|
Carriage |
8 |
6 |
|
Unloading charge |
2 |
0 |
|
26 |
8 |
This figure is to be compared with the former charge of 34/-. The difference between this figure and those quoted for turf delivered in Dublin under the free fuel scheme is occasioned by merchants' charges for delivery. Representations have been made to merchants regarding the cost of delivery of turf and it has been explained by the merchants that owing to the small unit quantity of delivery (1 cwt.) and the difficulty in many cases of locating and reaching the consignee, the expense of delivery is necessarily higher than in the case of delivery in the ordinary course of trade.
Is the Minister aware that the very same difficulties apply to the distribution of coal by certain bodies in the City of Dublin and that it is possible to deliver good quality coal in small quantities and to the top storeys of houses at 36/6 per ton as compared with 38/4 for turf in the city and 40/- for turf in places like Rathmines and Pembroke?
I am not aware that local authorities have been distributing coal in the same way as they are now distributing turf.
Benevolent bodies have been distributing coal. Will the Minister take into consideration the cost of the delivery of turf as against the cost of delivery of coal?
I have taken it into consideration and representations have been made to the merchants.