asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if, in view of the importance of feeding stuffs for winter feeding purposes, he will put on the priority list for Córas Iompair Éireann animal feeding stuffs such as beet pulp, milling offals, etc.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Transport of Animal Fodder.
No useful purpose would be served by adding animal feeding stuffs to the priority list as the demand for covered wagons for grain, fertilisers and essential foodstuffs is, at present, greater than the supply.
Does that mean that animal feeding stuffs will be left for weeks and, in some cases, months?
Not necessarily. It does mean that there is a real transport problem arising out of the shortage of wagons.
Is the Minister aware that pulp cannot be got from the Tuam beet factory until the spring? Surely that is not desirable. Will the Minister make some effort to have that byproduct cleared for winter-feeding purposes?
Will the Minister not consider an extension of the scheme of carrying bulk merchandise, like Guinness's porter, in returning lorries from Dublin in order to release railway wagons for this purpose?
It would not release railway wagons for this purpose.
It is only within the last three weeks that they have been carrying Guinness's stout from Dublin by lorry so that wagons have been released.
Will the Minister cause an inquiry to be made as to the number of empty wagons lying at Killaloe and for what purpose they are retained there?
That is a separate question.
The Minister complains that there is a shortage of wagons.