asked the Minister for Supplies if he is aware of the number of manufacturers and business firms and their workers that have suffered loss, through the failure to get adequate notice that their fuel supplies would be reduced; and if he will state the cause of the failure to give reasonable notice, and if any improvement in supplies is pending.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Fuel for Business Purposes.
Mr. A. Byrne
I cannot accept the implications of the Deputy's question that fuel difficulties of manufacturers or business firms have arisen from lack of warning of the possibilities of a sudden curtailment in coal supplies. The Deputy should be aware that the danger of such sudden curtailment has, in fact, been repeatedly brought to the notice of industrialists as well as other coal users. On receipt of the information that supplies of imported coal were to be reduced, immediate steps were taken by my Department to deal with the situation. There was no delay in giving notice to the public.
I cannot hold out any immediate prospect of an improvement in the coal supply position.