asked the Minister for Supplies if he will state whether he is aware that workers in the City of Dublin who depend upon bellmen distributors of coal, are still not able to get their normal quantities of coal, are unable to use the quantity of slack that is included, and are not able to obtain turf, and if he will receive a deputation of representatives of the bellmen for the purpose of discussing and removing the causes of this unsatisfactory state of affairs.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Coal Supplies to Bellmen.
I am not aware that the position is as stated in the first part of the question.
Arrangements have now been made by my Department with the Dublin coal merchants to ensure adequate supplies of coal and turf for the poorer classes of the community in Dublin who normally purchase their coal supplies from bellmen or hucksters. The arrangements are calculated to give these consumers first preference both in regard to quantity and quality, and to maintain prices at the lowest possible level.
While every effort is being made and will be made to have coal of a suitable quality supplied to bellmen, our efforts in this respect must be governed by the type of coal available.
A deputation from bellmen was received in my Department a few weeks ago when the difficulties experienced by these traders were fully discussed. Since then no complaints have been received in my Department nor any request to receive a further deputation.
Would the Minister say whether, if he receives a request to receive a deputation arising out of present day conditions, he will accede to that request?
I do not think it is necessary for the Deputy to ask that question. There is the closest contact between my Department and the representatives of these traders, and on any occasion on which they have had representations to make to my Department, they have had no difficulty in making them.
Is the Minister aware that, in spite of his statement that the bellmen can get 100 per cent. of their normal supplies, they are not able to get 100 per cent. of supplies?
I am not aware of it.
Is he aware that the coal they are offered at present they are not able to take, and that the coal they have to take they are not able to sell? Is he further aware that some of the coal they have had to distribute to their purchasers cannot be burned, that in a ton of it, it is not possible to get a dozen two-inch cubes of coal, that the greater part of it is slack, that before a woman attempting to light it is able to get it lighted, it has fallen through the bars of the grate, with the result that a number of bellmen have been asked by the people whom they supplied to take it away and that that is the position in spite of the fact that, in the last two months, the price of coal to bellmen has gone up by 11/-?
It is correct that we cannot now obtain in this country the qualities of coal which we were accustomed to purchase. We shall have to take whatever qualities of coal we can get. We have made arrangements to ensure that a full 100 per cent. of supplies will be available for bellmen in Dublin, that a proportion of every cargo that comes in will be allocated for the purpose of supplying them. The price at which the coal will be given to them has been fixed by order and the price at which they will sell the coal has been fixed. All possible arrangements so that first preference in relation to quality, quantity and price will be given to the poorer consumers who buy from these traders have been completed.
Is the Minister aware that the percentage of coal being allotted to the bellmen for retail to poorer purchasers is of an inferior quality to that available for other people?
Let me say this: The bellmen, when they were conducting discussions with my Department, were quite reasonable in recognising that some quantity of slack would have to be taken with coal, and they themselves suggested that they would be agreeable to take up to 50 per cent. in certain circumstances, but objection was taken to having to take more. The arrangement which was made, and which they regarded as satisfactory, did provide for some quantity of slack being provided.
Will the Minister get somebody in his Department to do what Deputies have done, that is, to see the coal made available to bellmen and provided to the poorer classes of houses and the difficulties under which the poor are labouring in getting their fires going and in keeping them going?
Would the Minister say if there is any reason why the screening of coal should not be continued as before and the slack sold as before, instead of importing slack as is being done at the moment?
Consignments of slack come in because we can get nothing else. Deputies must face realities. The export of coal to this country is controlled by a British Government Department which issues licences for such quantities and qualities as they are prepared to sell us. That is the coal we have to take.
Has it gone up 11/- a ton?
It has gone up 11/- a ton, and possibly more.
I appreciate the Minister's statement of the position, but at the same time, it does not seem to me that there is an insuperable obstacle to the screening of a certain quantity and the selling of the slack as heretofore. There is at present only 1/6 difference in price between coal and slack.
I have already explained that the arrangements made for supplying coal to bellmen ensure that they will take only a fixed proportion of slack.
Does the Minister realise that the better class houses ought to be able to make more use of slack than the poorer classes of houses, where the grates are not in any way suitable and where they have not got as many sticks for getting a fire alight?
May I suggest that inquiry should be made as to whether the Minister's order, providing that bellmen are to get 50 per cent. slack and 50 per cent. coal, is not being interpreted to entitle coal importers to give bellmen 50 per cent. slack and 50 per cent. coal which is not screened?
The Deputy can be satisfied that all necessary inquiries are being made, but, apart altogether from the inquiries that might be conducted by officers of my Department, the fact that not a single bellman in Dublin has thought fit to make a complaint to the Department since the arrangement was brought into force is an indication that the grounds for complaint have been removed.
Would it suggest itself to the Minister that the reason is that they are not able to do anything with the Department and have to come to Deputies and others to get attention drawn to the matter?
In that case, it is difficult to understand the statements which they published in the Press expressing appreciation of the activities of the Department.
There are more people than bellmen publishing appreciation of Ministers in the Press which they do not believe in.