asked the Taoiseach if he will state (i) the total quantity by weight of sulphuric acid used and consumed for fertiliser manufacture and all other industrial purposes during the year ended 31st December, 1950; (ii) the estimated normal annual requirement of sulphuric acid for such purposes; (iii) the total quantity of sulphuric acid manufactured in this country during the year ended 31st December, 1950; (iv) the estimated total annual output of sulphuric acid from all plants and installations at present available for manufacturing this acid.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Sulphuric Acid Requirements.
Major de Valera
The latest information available regarding the production and consumption of sulphuric acid relates to the year ended 30th June, 1949. The following are the particulars: (i) the total quantity used and consumed for fertiliser manufacture and all other industrial purposes in the year ended 30th June, 1949, based on the census of industrial production for the fertilisers industry and imports, amounted to 53,294 tons; (ii) the average annual consumption in the three years ended 30th June, 1947-1949, on the same basis amounted to 53,500 tons; (iii) the total quantity manufactured by fertiliser manufacturers in the year ended 30th June, 1949 amounted to 52,624 tons; (iv) no information is available regarding the quantity produced by concerns other than those engaged in the manufacture of fertilisers, but the amount produced may be deemed to be insignificant.