asked the Minister for Supplies whether he is aware of the acute shortage of men's boots, and if he will state what steps he can now take to remedy the shortage.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Boot Supplies.
asked the Minister for Supplies if he is aware of the scarcity of boots suitable for farm labourers, and whether he is prepared to consider steps to increase the supply of this type of footwear to traders catering for rural areas.
I propose to take questions Nos. 9 and 10 together.
It is not correct that there is an acute shortage of men's boots. Since January last the boot factories have been subject to control to ensure that reasonable quantities of essential types of footwear including heavy boots for men are produced. Returns received from the factories indicate that production of the heavier type of men's footwear, to which priority has been given, has been increased to a higher total than in normal times, although supplies are below the demand which has been increased by reason of the shortage of industrial rubber boots. I have no evidence to suggest that available supplies of heavy footwear are not distributed equitably by manufacturers and wholesalers.
Is the Minister aware that at the present time there are not a dozen pairs of men's boots in the town of Ballaghaderreen? Will he, therefore, consider the obvious and necessary step, and that is, in consultation with the Minister for Defence, to release the men's boot manufacturers temporarily from their obligation to turn out so large a percentage of the total output for Army contracts?
I would like to inform the Deputy that, owing to recent measures taken by the Minister for Supplies to get more of this particular type of boot turned out, the quarterly output now is almost double what it was in 1942-43 and, although it is admitted that the supply is not quite equal to the demand, the position should improve in a very short time.
Is the Minister aware of the difficulty of procuring either leather or rubber boots in Tipperary?
Is the Minister aware that in Enniscorthy, his native town, there are no farm labourers' boots to be had, with the exception of wooden-soled boots?
I heard that.
Is the Minister aware that a young man was found 40 miles from Killarney, cycling to that town in the hope that he might be able to get a pair of boots there?
Quite seriously, this thing has become a very great hardship and the remedy is quite simple. That is, to release the boot manufacturers from their Army contracts for two months. If the Minister for Defence will do that, an acute difficulty will evaporate.
In the case of the Dublin Corporation I might mention that over 2,000 pairs of heavy boots are due to the men for at least two years and it is practically impossible for the Corporation to obtain supplies.
I would like to emphasise that the quarterly output is almost double what it was in 1942-43; that rate of output will continue. I have a report from the Department of Supplies here and I think, judging from that report, that with a continuation of that output, the difficulty should be surmounted in a very short time.
Will the Minister consult with the Minister for Defence, because the situation may be aggravated by the recent change in the procedure for giving boots to the L.D.F.? Heretofore, individual members of the L.D.F. could buy boots on a voucher from a merchant. Now they are supplied direct through the Army depots. That may constitute an additional drain on the supplies. If the Minister will consult with the Minister for Defence he will find the key to the solution.
I shall take a note of that.