asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if he will state the number of permits issued by his Department for the use of anthracite for Esse, Aga, A. and B., and other such anthracite cookers and stoves.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Fuel for Anthracite Cookers and Stoves.
Permits authorising the purchase of anthracite for cooking purposes during the current period have been granted in approximately 7,000 individual cases. Anthracite is not allowed for use in space-heating stoves.
asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if he is aware of the serious hardships being endured by the holders of permits for anthracite coal for domestic use in cookers; that many families are dependent solely upon such cookers for domestic use, and have no substitute fuel to enable them to overcome their present difficulties; whether, in these circumstances, he will take steps to ensure the supply of a regular monthly ration of anthracite coal to authorised domestic users of anthracite; and whether, in addition, he will have the ration which obtained in January of this year restored to them.
I am aware that the recent reduction in allowances of anthracite for thermal storage cookers has entailed some hardship. The reduction has been made necessary by the present critical coal position and must be maintained until there has been an all-round improvement in coal supplies.
Supplies of anthracite are available to provide the reduced monthly allowance.