asked the Minister for Supplies if his attention has been drawn to an advertisement issued by the Great Northern Railway to the effect that they have lorries available for the haulage of sand and gravel; and, if so, if he will state why the Great Northern Railway can advertise for such work, whereas lorry owners and sand and gravel contractors engaged in this work cannot obtain sufficient supplies of petrol to fulfil their contracts.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Haulage of Sand and Gravel.
I have been furnished with a copy of a notice, inserted by the Great Northern Railway Company (Ireland) in two newspapers published in Drogheda, which indicated that the company had available a limited number of vehicles suitable for the haulage of sand, gravel, etc. I assume that this is the advertisement referred to by the Deputy.
The Great Northern Railway Company (Ireland) engage in the transport of sand and gravel as a normal part of its business as a public transport concern. In the early part of this year, applications for the hire of vehicles from the company for the haulage of sand and gravel had to be declined owing to the company's inability to provide suitable vehicles. The company was subsequently in a position to purchase suitable vehicles and the notice above referred to was inserted as a means of apprising those concerned of the altered position.
The notice does not contain the implications suggested by the Deputy.
Can the Minister state when the Great Northern Railway Company engaged in the business of the haulage of sand and gravel? And is it not correct that the Minister's allocation of petrol is based on the amount of business done in the year 1939? Is the Minister not well aware that the Great Northern Railway Company never engaged in the haulage of sand or gravel and can he say how this company can advertise for work while sand and gravel contractors, who have been engaged in the business all their lives, cannot get sufficient petrol to deal with contracts they have in hand?
It is a pretty long supplementary.
The Deputy is misinformed. The company have always engaged in the haulage of sand and gravel. They were unable to engage in that work early this year because of lack of suitable vehicles and the notice was merely to apprise their clients that they are now in a position to resume the service.
I take it from the advertisement issued by the company that the company has petrol to spare and is looking for work?
The company's allocation has not been increased.