asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if he will enumerate the bogs on which semi-automatic turf schemes have been discontinued, and state in respect of each such scheme (a) whether the scheme was economic or uneconomic; (b) the number of men for whom employment would have been available thereon, were it not for the decision to discontinue the scheme, and (c) what, if any, alternative employment has been made available for the men who would have been employed on the scheme, had the decision to discontinue such scheme not been taken.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Turf Production.
The bogs on which the production of machine turf under the special turf production scheme has been discontinued are set out in a tabular statement which will be circulated with the Official Report. Production on none of the bogs has proved economic. It is not possible to indicate the numbers of workers that might have been employed on these bogs if they had been continued in production in the 1950 season, but the tabular statement indicates the numbers that were employed on the bogs in 1949.
I am informed by Bord na Móna that alternative employment on permanent schemes operated by the board in Counties Kildare, Offaly, Tipperary and Galway was offered to those men who, in February last, became unemployed as a result of the decision to close down the special turf production schemes, the men, where necessary, to reside in the hostels operated by the board. Bord na Móna still require a large number of men for the 1950 season's campaign on their permanent schemes, and advertisements to this effect have appeared in the daily papers.
I should add, for the information of the House, that the Government have decided to continue the special scheme for the production of turf in the 1950 season on certain bogs, the production from which, it is estimated by Bord na Móna, can be readily disposed of not later than the 30th June, 1951. These bogs are situated in the Counties of Roscommon, Westmeath, Meath, Galway, Tipperary, Clare, Kerry and Limerick. It is expected that production will amount to 40,000 tons of turf and, at the peak of employment, some 850 men will be engaged.
Following is the statement:—
SPECIAL TURF PRODUCTION SCHEME.
|
County |
Bog |
Peak employment in 1949 Season |
Total |
|
Men |
|||
|
Roscommon |
Keelbanada |
47 |
|
|
Boleysillagh |
45 |
||
|
Cloonbunny |
23 |
||
|
Cloonroughan |
53 |
||
|
Cloonalis |
58 |
||
|
Leitrim |
14 |
||
|
Erritt |
16 |
||
|
Carrowbehy |
19 |
||
|
Clooncondra |
12 |
||
|
Cloonshanville |
14 |
||
|
Aghadrestan |
15 |
||
|
316 |
|||
|
Sligo |
Limnagh |
— |
|
|
62 |
|||
|
Westmeath |
Farthingstown |
— |
|
|
16 |
|||
|
Cavan |
Altbrean |
— |
|
|
52 |
|||
|
Mayo |
Dooleg |
65 |
|
|
Rathmorgan |
77 |
||
|
Cloonainra |
55 |
||
|
Cloontia |
58 |
||
|
Srahnacloy |
93 |
||
|
Glenkeen |
22 |
||
|
Keenagh |
36 |
||
|
Ballyveeney |
58 |
||
|
Beltra |
15 |
||
|
Erriff |
12 |
||
|
Garryedmond |
53 |
||
|
Clydagh |
27 |
||
|
Doolough |
10 |
||
|
Tawneymacken |
7 |
||
|
Tavanaghbeg |
7 |
||
|
Derrakillew |
16 |
||
|
611 |
|||
|
Galway |
Gunnode |
13 |
|
|
Derryfadda |
20 |
||
|
Kilmacshane |
17 |
||
|
Lurgan |
6 |
||
|
Caltraduff |
7 |
||
|
Colmanstown |
8 |
||
|
Moyardwood |
4 |
||
|
75 |
|||
|
Tipperary |
Monaincha |
— |
|
|
44 |
|||
|
Limerick |
Cratloe |
— |
|
|
7 |
|||
|
Kerry |
Cordal East |
10 |
|
|
Knockeencreen |
25 |
||
|
Meenleitrim |
17 |
||
|
Portmagee |
44 |
||
|
Caher |
27 |
||
|
Carrigcannon |
13 |
||
|
136 |
|||
|
Donegal |
Glenties |
— |
|
|
65 |
|||
|
Kildare |
Lodge |
42 |
|
|
Black River |
106 |
||
|
Timahoe South |
25 |
||
|
173 |
|||
|
Offaly |
Derryiron |
8 |
|
|
Ballydermot |
71 |
||
|
Glashabaun |
76 |
||
|
Turraun |
15 |
||
|
170 |
|||
|
Longford |
Edenmore |
— |
|
|
8 |
|||
|
TOTAL |
1,735 |
Can the Minister say what are the main factors which have rendered these schemes uneconomic?
They did not pay.
Can the Minister give the reasons?
Because the price at which the turf could be disposed of was not sufficient to meet the charges. In fact, in some of the areas the losses will be still more substantial, particularly west of the Shannon and in Kerry and other places, because in order to dispose of the turf the price will have to be reduced from 39/6 to 32/- or 33/-, and even then it is anticipated that there will be difficulty in disposing of it.
We can take it then that the semi-automatic schemes produced turf of a much more costly kind than the fully automatic schemes?
The Deputy should not draw any conclusions from what I have said until he has read the full statement in the Official Report.
The fully automatic schemes are being continued anyway.
There is no question now, and there has not been any question at any time, of in any way interfering with or curtailing the permanent schemes of Bord na Móna. The Bord are looking for men to operate these schemes and I hope they will have the Deputy's help in getting them.
Did I understand the Minister to say that 850 men would be employed on the production of 40,000 tons of turf?
At the peak.
Is the Minister aware that that means that each man would be producing approximately 50 tons? How long will the peak last in these circumstances?
It would depend on a variety of matters—the weather, where the bog is located and so on.
The production of 50 tons per man will not mean a great deal of employment.
It is not a question of 50 tons per man; it is a question of 50 tons per machine, and it takes at least four men to operate each of these machines.
The Minister did say that 850 men would be employed on the production of 40,000 tons of turf?
What is the Deputy trying to ascertain?
I want to know if I understood the Minister correctly.
The Minister stated specifically and clearly that, at the peak of production this year, on the selected number of bogs in the counties I have mentioned, 850 persons will be employed.
To produce 40,000 tons of turf?
The Deputy does not know anything about it.
May I put it this way: will the 850 men be actually engaged in the production of turf or on ancillary operations in connection with bog development?
Some Deputies apparently know the work which has to be performed to produce turf. It is estimated that, on the limited number of bogs from which the produce can be sold which are to be operated this year, 850 persons will be employed at the peak. Whether they are engaged four to each semi-automatic machine or in wheeling or footing or clamping turf or getting it out to the side of the road, it will mean the employment of 850 persons at the peak. To get to the peak on any particular bog may mean from one week to one month. You do not reach your peak at starting. You may not reach the peak until May or June. There are bogs on which you cannot work until the end of June.
The Minister said that the difficulty of proceeding with the semi-automatic scheme west of the Shannon was the local sale of the turf. Will the Minister consider making a special effort to get the turf produced west of the Shannon sold east of the Shannon, particularly in view of the fact that we are subsidising the British Coal Board to the extent of 25/- per ton for the production of coal?
Is the Minister aware that there is really an untapped market in the West of Ireland for this turf and that there is absolutely no reason why one sod of turf produced west of the Shannon should go east of the Shannon? In view of the fact that this market is there in the west, I ask him to hold an inquiry into the marketing system of Bord na Móna so that this market will be properly explored and developed.
Would the Minister consider banning coal west of the Shannon?
I will not. I am as anxious as any Deputy to see the fullest possible development of turf. Deputy Aiken will, I am sure, appreciate that you will not make it more economic by having to transport turf from the west coast to the east coast. The Deputy is fully aware that one of the biggest factors in the cost of turf is transport. If the position is as Deputy McQuillan says, I will be very glad to receive any assistance from him in that matter. If we can find a market east or west of the Shannon or anywhere else in which turf can be sold at an economic price, then I will "plug" it for all I am worth. May I remind Deputy Aiken that I was not responsible for the coal deal with the British?
The Minister has been responsible for the last two years for carrying it on. Surely it is more economic for this country to use turf——
A Deputy
There is no turf in the Phænix Park.
There is coal in the Phænix Park and we are importing coal at present at three times its economic price.