asked the Minister for Supplies if supplies of drying coal will be made available to corn millers in Cavan whose kilns are not suitable to dry the grain with turf; and, also, if permits to purchase coal will be granted to millers whose kilns are suitable, but who live long distances from bogs.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Coal for Kiln Dryinq of Grain.
I am advised that in so far as the small millers are concerned kiln drying of grain before processing is unnecessary, except in the case of oats intended for conversion into oatmeal for human consumption. I will be prepared to entertain applications for permits to purchase coal for the latter purpose from corn millers in Cavan as well as in other parts of the scheduled turf area but only if it can be satisfactorily established that the use of turf is impracticable. In the present difficult situation in respect of coal supplies, permits to purchase coal cannot be granted to millers whose kilns are suitable for the use of turf. Any miller who is unable to secure supplies of turf through his own efforts will be put in touch with a suitable source of supply in his neighbourhood if he reports his difficulty to my Department.
Is the Minister aware that there are certain mills in County Cavan which have not, so far, opened, and that severe difficulties are put in the way of farmers in those districts?
I am not so aware.
Is the Minister aware that considerable quantities of grain due to the wet season are rapidly deteriorating in quality because of lack of kiln-drying facilities, and that it is a serious matter from the point of view of feeding live stock? Is he also aware that he has made provision for the drying of oats for the purpose of oatmeal manufacture for resale, and has refused to provide coal for the manufacture of oatmeal on commission? Will he say why he differentiates, in the matter of providing coal, between the conversion of oats into oatmeal for the producer and the production of oatmeal for resale?
This question is limited to coal for corn mills.
In any case, the Deputy's statement is not correct. It is true that supplies of coal are not made available to any miller where my Department is satisfied that other fuels can be used satisfactorily.
Is the Minister aware that last year millers got a more substantial allowance of coal than is being given this year, and will he tell the House for the information of these millers throughout the country, from what authority he has got this new advice whereby the permits allotted last year have been cut down by more than 50 per cent.? I know cases in my own constituency last year of millers who got more coal than they required, and who returned their permits without having fully exhausted their allocations, while this year they are not getting half enough. They tell me and other Deputies in the constituency that it will be impossible for them to attend to the requirements of the farmers for whom they grind on commission.
I want to say——
Does the Deputy desire to ask a question in relation to Cavan ?
The Minister said my statement was not correct. I have a letter from his Department which proves that it is correct, in which it is stated that coal is provided for the drying of oats for the production of oatmeal for resale and refused for the drying of oats for the production of oatmeal on commission. The Minister cannot deny that, in face of that letter.
I think the Deputy is misinterpreting the letter, or misquoting it. I stated that the drying of oats before processing is not necessary in the case of oats intended for animal feeding. Where oats is being processed for oatmeal, drying is necessary and coal is provided, if it is established that no other fuel can be used.