asked the Minister for Supplies if he is aware that many people in Cork City complain that they have been supplied with water-logged turf for which they are called upon to pay the maximum price; and if he will state what arrangements he will make to ensure good turf is supplied, or alternatively, to reduce the price of turf whose weight at the time of sale must inevitably be considerably reduced by drying before it can be used as fuel.
Ceisteanna.—Questions. Oral Answers. - Cork City Turf Supply.
asked the Minister for Supplies if he will state to whom persons residing in Cork City may address complaints concerning supplies of water-logged turf, or requests to have such turf officially inspected and replaced.
I propose to take questions Nos. 5 and 6 together. I am not aware that water-logged turf is being offered for sale in Cork City. On the contrary, a report of an official inspection by the Turf Development Board showed that the turf in Cork City is of a uniformly good quality. So far as my Department is concerned, not a single complaint from a householder has reached it that water-logged turf, or indeed inferior quality turf, has been supplied in Cork City this winter.
Throughout the whole non-turf area there is a system of inspection of turf supplied through Fuel Importers (Éire), Limited, so that a reasonably high standard of turf only shall be made available to the public, and I am informed that, on the whole, this system is now working satisfactorily. Moreover, the merchants are at liberty to reject turf which they consider unsuitable for immediate sale. I assume the Deputy has specific instances in his possession of persons who have been supplied with water-logged turf, and if he will let me have particulars I will have inquiries made.
Any customer of a merchant who has been supplied with water-logged turf should address his complaint in the first instance to the merchant with whom he is registered, and if the latter refuses to replace such turf free of charge, the matter will be dealt with in my Department.
Is the Minister aware that the fuel suppliers refuse to take back the fuel except at a cost of 10/- to 15/- per ton?
I am not so aware. If the Deputy knows of any such cases, I shall be glad to have them brought to my notice.
Has this any connection with the social turf supply?
I am concerned only with the turf supplied by Fuel Importers, Limited.