asked the Minister for Local Government and Public Health if he will state (a) the cost of the turf production scheme in County Clare for the years 1941-42, 1942-43 and 1943-44; (b) the quantity of turf cut in each year and the quantity saved and actually usable; (c) the cost of production per ton of turf and the price per ton realised for turf sold; (d) the amount paid each year in (i) wages, (ii) transport, and (iii) salaries and bonuses; (e) the quantity of turf destroyed each year because of (i) unduly late cutting and (ii) other causes.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Turf Production in Clare.
As regards headings (a) and (c) of the question the arrangements for determining the price of turf supplied to Fuel Importers Limited provide for the fixing of an interim price pending the ascertainment of the final charge when the total quantity of turf has been disposed of and the total expenditure examined. The cost of production per ton will, of course, depend on the actual tonnage of turf produced as ascertained by sale. The final charges for the years in question have not been definitely fixed. As regards heading (b) of the question the quantity of turf cut was estimated at 499,000 cubic yards in 1941, 302,000 cubic yards in 1942 and 184,000 cubic yards in 1943. The production of turf in the past two years was hampered by unfavourable weather conditions and some disintegration ensued.
The remainder of the reply contains a considerable number of figures and will be printed in the Official Report.
Following is the statement:—
The quantity of turf disposed of up to the 30th September, 1943, was as follows:—
|
Turf produced in the year 1941 |
28,668 tons |
|
Turf produced in the year 1942 |
26,700 tons |
|
Turf produced in the year 1943 |
1,564 tons |
As regards heading (d) the particulars are as follows:—
|
Crop |
Wages |
Transport |
Bonuses |
Salaries |
|
£ |
£ |
£ |
£ |
|
|
1941 |
45,273 |
11,888 |
558 |
Nil |
|
1942 |
41,207 |
13,500 |
538 |
174 |
|
1943 |
24,107 |
2,129 |
Nil |
Nil. |
As pointed out to the Deputy in my reply to his other question I am informed that his allegations as regards turf destroyed are entirely baseless.
asked the Minister for Local Government and Public Health if he will state (1) if it is proposed to refund to the Clare County Council the interest charges involved in that portion of their overdraft in respect of turf which is not occasioned by the production of turf for the council's own requirements; (2) if he will refund the difference between the price of 25/- per ton at which turf was offered for the year 1941-42 by the Doonbeg Parish Committee to the subsidiary bodies of the Clare County Council and the price of 41/- per ton these bodies have been compelled to accept for turf; and, further, if it is proposed to refund the cost of cutting turf under instructions of his Department in August and September, 1942, and also the cost of collecting and barrowing it into bog-holes in the spring of 1943, when it proved impossible to save it.
As regards heading (1) of the question, interest on overdraft for the financing of turf production is reckonable as part of the cost of production so that the question of a refund of interest charges as such does not arise. As regards heading (2) the primary object of county councils participating in turf production was the supply of fuel for their own needs, including fuel for institutions under their control. They could not prudently rely upon having their full needs met by private production of turf fuel. I am not in a position to make any comments on the offer of the Doonbeg Parish Committee to supply turf as I am not aware of the full facts, but I can definitely say that there will be no subsidising of turf produced by the county council and supplied to subsidiary bodies in the county for their own needs.
As regards the concluding portion of the question, a relatively small quantity of turf was cut in the month of August, 1942. The cost of production is reckonable as part of the general cost of the entire 1942 crop. It is incorrect to say that any turf was cut in the month of September, 1942. Further, I am informed that the allegation that the turf was barrowed into holes is entirely baseless.