asked the Minister for Supplies if he will state for what reason a number of retailers in the Swinford and Claremorris areas did not receive their supply of kerosene for the month of October.
Ceisteanna. — Questions. Oral Answers. - County Mayo Kerosene Supplies.
In the absence of particulars of the retailers to whom the Deputy refers I am not in a position to state the reasons why these retailers did not receive supplies for October. I am aware, however, that owing to transport difficulties delay has been experienced in the delivery of oil to some areas. The matter has been under discussion with the oil distributing companies, but for a number of reasons it may not be possible to avoid a recurrence of delays in the delivery of supplies.
Arising out of the Minister's reply, while I appreciate the difficulties with which he is confronted I want to say that last year a similar situation existed. The people in many parts of Mayo were left without their monthly quotas, and the Minister gave a guarantee here that it would not occur again.
I did not.
On condition, of course, that the necessary supplies were available. It has not been asserted that the supplies are not in existence on this occasion. Therefore, I want to know what is the reason why the people have been left without their supplies for a month. The October supply was not delivered until November; they were left a month without the necessary oil.
Are they not getting the two months together now — November and December?
If the Deputy had to go without his dinner for a week it would be no use to him to get it all together in the following week.
I gave no guarantee last year that there would be no delay in the delivery of kerosene supplies, and I can give no guarantee now. In the past kerosene supplies reached this country in small vessels trading to a number of small ports. Now they are all delivered to Dublin, and the distribution of the supplies when they do arrive in Dublin gives rise to difficulties. Every effort will be made to avoid delays in delivery to outlying areas, but I cannot guarantee that there will be no delays.
What I have been given to understand by the retailers concerned is that the traders in the towns of Ballyhaunis, Kiltimagh and Swinford have been supplied, while the country shopkeepers, who have a larger number of customers, are not supplied at all. In those towns they have the Electricity Supply Board supply, so I think the shopkeepers in the rural districts should come first.