asked the Minister for Supplies whether, owing to the lack of firewood in Enniscorthy and the great hardship which this involves — particularly in the case of the poor — he will issue permits to any person or persons willing to supply timber from outside the town.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Enniscorthy Firewood Supply.
There is already a considerable number of licensed fuel merchants in Enniscorthy and I am not aware that they are unable to supply the fuel requirements of the locality. Any local applications that may be made for fuel merchants' licences will be considered in relation to the circumstances of each case.
At the moment in Enniscorthy town there is no merchant who has timber for sale to the poor. The only people who can afford to get timber in Enniscorthy are the wealthy people. The Minister's regulations have debarred those who carried on business before the emergency selling small lots of timber to the townspeople, from coming into the urban area without a licence. Will he grant these licences freely so that the poor people may get timber? There is no timber available in the town at the moment. What action will the Minister take? Will he let the poor people perish — they have bad turf and no timber?
So far as the Minister for Supplies is aware, the turf is of good quality.
I doubt it.