asked the Minister for Supplies whether he will consider allocating fuel oil for tractors on the basis of acreage to be tilled in the coming season, thus ensuring that idle tractors will not receive the same rations as tractors with more urgent work awaiting them than the present ration will reach on.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Fuel Oil for Tractors.
Applicants for fuel for tractors are required to complete a special form on which they must state the total acreage to be tilled in the current season, and in the month in respect of which the application is made. The kerosene is then allocated on the basis of the work to be done.
Contractors taking contracts outside their own land may properly include in their statements the acreage they have contracted to plough for October?
That is correct.
asked the Minister for Supplies if he will guarantee the supplies of fuel necessary for tractors engaged in the ploughing of land for winter corn.
Farmers who complete Form K.R.1A. setting out particulars of land to be ploughed for winter corn will receive permits to purchase sufficient kerosene for the tractors engaged on such ploughing.
The information I have got from tractor owners in County Wexford is quite different. They say that their applications have been turned down and that they have not been even acknowledged in some cases. How are these farmers who are anxious to grow the required acreage of winter wheat and to have it sown before the middle of November, to get the work done unless they are assured of the necessary permits?
Permits for the purchase of 452,000 gallons have been issued for the present month.
They have not got their permits.
Does the Minister realise that the position as regards tractor fuel is becoming more chaotic every day? Farmers cannot secure supplies except on personal representation. That means that the farmer has to come up from the country to make representations to the Ministry.
That is not a fact.
I can give the Minister particulars of a number of individual farmers who had to come up personally to the Department. They were forced to come up before they could get any supplies.