asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if he will state (a) the number of bogs in the State on which semi-automatic machine-won turf was produced in 1949; (b) the total number of machines in operation; (c) the total tonnage of turf produced; (d) the total number of persons employed in its production, and (e) the total amount of wages paid to such persons.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Turf Production.
I am informed by Bord na Móna that semi-automatic machine turf was produced on 63 bogs in 1949. Two hundred and two semi-automatic machines were used and the production of turf is estimated at 101,000 tons. The weekly average employment during the 1949 season was 1,747 men, and the total amount of wages paid between 1st April, 1949, and 16th February, 1950, amounted to £262,360.