asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if he has seen a statement attributed to a spokesman of the international authority for the Ruhr to the effect that there is a general shortage of coal in Western Europe and the recent statement of the British Minister of Fuel and Power concerning British coal production and requirements during the next year and whether, in view of present and probable future restriction of coal imports, he will make a statement on the Government's plans to ensure adequate fuel supplies when the remaining emergency coal stocks are exhausted.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Fuel Supply Position.
I have seen a number of statements relating to the European coal outlook. In view of the situation, the Government has decided that currency will be provided to enable importers to supplement British supplies by imports from other sources to the extent that it may prove necessary to meet the immediate requirements of the current winter.
I would also refer the Deputy to the reply given on the 23rd November to Deputy Fitzpatrick regarding the Government's proposals for increased turf production.
Is the Parliamentary Secretary satisfied that the arrangements now in progress for increasing turf production next year will be adequate to prevent a recurring fuel shortage next winter?
The Deputy is aware that whatever shortage there was in existence this year was not due to the steps taken but was due to the weather. Adequate supplies of turf were cut but they were unusable.
Is the Parliamentary Secretary satisfied that the arrangements he is making will ensure us against a fuel shortage next winter irrespective of the weather?
I have no control over the weather.
Is the position regarding next winter that no arrangements are in contemplation to ensure us fuel supplies if the year is a bad one?
We have no policy about the weather.
None about turf.
A Deputy
Nor about anything.
There is none about turf.
asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if the existing national fuel position is such as to warrant full-scale emergency production, including hand-won turf; and if he will undertake to organise hand-won schemes either through the agency of Bord na Móna or otherwise.
The national fuel position generally is under constant review by the Government. It is not possible at this stage to say what decisions will be taken on the question of turf production next year.
asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if he will state whether turf has had to be brought from Cork to the Aran Islands; whether the stopping of machine production of turf in Connemara necessitated such transfer of turf; and if he will ask Bord na Móna to allocate for sale in the Aran Islands so much of next year's production as will satisfy the needs of the islanders.
Arrangements have been made as an emergency measure to bring 500 tons of turf from Turraun bog to the Aran Islands. 2,800 tons of turf were produced by semi-automatic machines in Connemara in 1950. Had orders been placed with Bord na Móna during the turf winning season for the requirements of the Aran Islands, the board could have reserved a supply equal to the quantity which it was necessary to bring from Turraun recently. I may add that machine-won turf had not previously been bought by the residents on the Aran Islands. It is anticipated that the production of turf in Connemara by semi-automatic machines in 1951 will, subject to reasonable weather conditions, amount to approximately 7,000 tons. If the residents of the Aran Islands desire to purchase this class of fuel, it should be possible to meet their needs provided orders are placed with Bord na Móna in good time.
Am I to understand the Parliamentary Secretary to say that 2,800 tons of machine-won turf were produced this year in Connemara?
That is so.
Can he say where it was sold?
I do not know where it was sold, but the Aran Islanders did not ask to buy it.
Was the Parliamentary Secretary not aware that there was a complete cleaning up of the first crop of turf in areas much nearer to the central turf areas in East Galway than Connemara is? Why did the Department not take steps to regulate the movement of turf when they saw the harvest turning out so badly?
They thought that the weather was all right in Aran.
No order was placed by them with Bord na Móna for machine-won turf last year. When machine-won turf was offered, it was refused.
That clears the Government of all responsibility.
For the weather.
A good excuse.
Question No. 55 postponed.