asked the Minister for Supplies if he will state how many country corn-millers, working on commission for farmers and manufacturing oatmeal and wheaten meal, have been refused permits for Castlecomer anthracite coal for drying purposes; if he is aware that such refusal may mean the unemployment of the staffs of such mills by closing down; and if he can hold out any immediate prospect of an improvement in the coal supplies to enable a more liberal distribution of coal for this purpose.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Corn Millers' Coal Supplies.
Although there are over 1,000 permitted millers in the country applications for coal for grain drying during the 1943/44 season were received from 116 millers only. Of these applications 49 were granted for the drying of oats for human consumption.
I have indicated in reply to a number of previous questions the policy in regard to the granting of coal permits to commission millers and I cannot accept the suggestion that the adoption of this policy must result in the disemployment of the staffs of such millers.
There is no immediate prospect of an improvement in the general coal supplies position.
Is the Minister aware of the great danger of these little mills being closed down? We have one large mill in Tipperary which employs 100 hands. If that were blitzed, like the co-operative store in Wexford, we would be left with only eight or ten small mills in the county, which may have to close down for lack of anthracite. These mills do good work, and a little anthracite would keep them going.
That seems to me to be the same question.