asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if he will make special arrangements to enable the people on Oileán na mBlascaod to obtain their flour quota in quantities other than weekly quantities, and in advance, in view of their difficulties in communicating with the mainland.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Flour Ration.
The rationing regulations now in force allow domestic consumers to purchase up to four weeks' ration of flour in advance.
asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce whether he is aware that the present weekly ration of flour is, in many cases, insufficient to supply the outdoor working members of farmers' families with an adequate supply of homemade bread; and if, in view of such inadequacy, he will consider granting an increase in the weekly ration of flour to such outdoor working members of farmers' families during the months of March, April and May.
The scarcity of wheat is an overriding consideration in the granting of supplementary allowances. I regret that the wheat position does not permit of the granting of supplementary allowances of flour to outdoor working members of farmers' families during the months of March, April and May.
Would the Minister not consider the case of farmers' sons who have to go to work on out-farms and who are virtually in the same position as agricultural labourers who have to take their meals with them when they cannot return to their houses for a midday meal?
I should be very glad to consider such cases but as I explained yesterday, the position concerning wheat supplies is at present such that any further extension of supplementary allowances of flour would involve a reduction in the general ration and in the majority of cases would not mean an improvement in total household supplies.