asked the Minister for Supplies if he is aware that the Drogheda Corporation Gas Department is in a precarious condition because of its inability to obtain a supply of coal for the undertaking, and whether in order to obviate a suspension of the gas services of Drogheda, he is prepared to make representations to the British Coal Control with a view to obtaining release of the quantity of coal required to enable Drogheda Corporation to carry on its gas services.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Gas Supply in Drogheda.
The difficulties being experienced by the Drogheda Corporation Gas Department are not peculiar to that undertaking. The quantity of gas coal at present being made available to this country is only a fraction of the normal importation, and the Drogheda Gas Works are receiving their proportionate share of the available supplies. They are also receiving the same facilities from my Department for the purchase of other classes of coal to supplement their gas coal allocation as other gas undertakings. In the circumstances, I am not prepared to make special representations to the United Kingdom authorities with a view to the provision of exceptional facilities for the Drogheda Corporation Gas Department.
Have any representations been made on behalf of a certain number of these smaller gas companies? It appears that the company in Dublin gets more benefit from the arrangements made at present than the smaller companies. We are not asking for anything for Drogheda especially, but for a number of these smaller undertakings.
I think the citizens of Dublin would be very pleased to hear that they could get the same hours of supply of gas as the people of Drogheda are getting.