asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce whether he is aware that private producers of turf in the neighbourhood of Headford Junction, County Kerry, complain that they can get only very few wagons from the railway company at Headford Junction for transporting their turf to their customers, while a large quantity of wagons are available for Fuel Importers or for those agents who buy for Fuel Importers; that this policy is forcing private producers to sell their turf to Fuel Importers at 24/- a ton, when they can get 37/- to 40/- from their ordinary customers, if provided with sufficient wagons to transport the turf, and whether, having regard to the present fuel position, he will make representations to the Great Southern Railways for a more equitable allocation of their transport in this matter.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Transport of Turf in County Kerry.
The records of the allocation of railway wagons for the period 19th March, 1943, to 8th October, 1943, show that out of a total of 973 wagons made available for turf transport at Headford Junction, 742 wagons were loaded by private producers for consignment to persons or firms other than Fuel Importers (Eire), Limited. The balance of 231 wagons was consigned to Fuel Importers. In these circumstances there appears to be little ground for the complaint mentioned in the Deputy's question.