asked the Minister for Supplies if he is prepared to make available to cattle dealers a small quantity of petrol in respect of private cars used in the course of their business.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Petrol Supplies.
asked the Minister for Supplies if he is prepared to make available a quantity of petrol in respect of private cars used for the purpose of supervising tillage operations in the case of persons working lands at a distance from their place of residence.
I will take Questions Nos. 6 and 7 together. As indicated in my reply to Deputy Hughes yesterday, if and when supplies of petrol are available special consideration will be given to the case of farmers and other persons who use their private cars for business purposes with a view to giving them some supplies.
Has the Minister carefully considered the position of farmers who have taken land for tillage purposes, in some cases, 20 and 30 miles away from where they reside? Not only farmers but other people are engaging extensively in tillage in places at a considerable distance from their residences and would the Minister be prepared to give special consideration to them as they are engaged in work of national importance?
I have given consideration to their cases. I recognise that there are many classes of private car owners who are very gravely inconvenienced by the lack of petrol. The position, however, is that petrol is not available for them and their cases cannot be considered unless the supply position should improve.
Does the Minister realise that if petrol supplies are to be of any use, they must be made available now, because this is the sowing period?
Unfortunately, I cannot make them available now.
asked the Minister for Supplies whether he will include midwives in the category of persons to whom supplies of petrol will be made available by special allocation.
I have considered specially the case of midwives to whom the use of a private car is absolutely essential for the carrying on of their professional work and have decided to grant some allowance of petrol to such persons.
What is the correct procedure in order to secure that supply?
I presume they will have to fill in a form, but I shall arrange to have an announcement made.
An announcement addressed to midwives?
It is possible that the Department has a record of such persons and can deal with them directly.
If a midwife who has been in receipt of petrol heretofore writes in, producing proof that she is a midwife and that she has been receiving petrol, she will get whatever allocation is made available?
Exactly.