asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if he will state whether the 240,000 tons of coal remaining in the emergency fuel dumps are available for purchase; and, if so, by whom, and on what terms.
- Emergency Coal Dumps.
The stock of coal remaining in the hands of Fuel Importers (Eire), Limited, consists in part of coal from America, and in part of coal from South Africa. Up to 70 per cent. of the American coal is slack and suitable only for large industrial concerns with special type boilers and furnaces. To these concerns the American coal will be made available when they require it, and the purchase price will be determined at the time the sale is arranged.
Up to the present it has been impossible to find any purchaser for the substantial quantities of South African coal which are lying in the dumps.
Would the Government consider releasing Bord na Móna from their contract to supply machine turf to Government Departments, so that turf may become available to local authorities for the cheap fuel schemes?
Sufficient turf is available to local authorities for the cheap fuel schemes.
Not machine turf.
If any shortage manifests itself in the future Bord na Móna will be permitted to make supplies available.