asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if, in view of the scarcity of potatoes on Tory Island, County Donegal, he will consider increasing the ration of flour available to the islanders.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Flour and Bread Ration.
The flour ration is the same throughout the country. To increase it for a particular area would be an innovation to which there would be many and serious objections.
This year, as in earlier years, I hope to be able to arrange for the issue of supplementary rations to harvest workers.
asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce whether he is aware that the present flour ration for bog workers and harvest workers is inadequate; and, if so, if he will make the necessary arrangements to increase the ration at an early date.
Bog workers, in common with other persons who are engaged in heavy manual labour and who find it necessary to take meals with them to work, are being granted supplementary rations of flour or bread.
This year, as in earlier years, I hope to be able to make arrangements for the issue of supplementary rations to harvest workers.
asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if an extra bread ration will be provided for turf workers, farm labourers on farming operations such as beet singling and men engaged in harvesting and also if he will take steps to provide that rural bakers and bakers supplying rural areas and holiday resorts will receive an extra ration of flour during the summer and harvesting months.
asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if he is aware that whilst the flour ration is more than sufficient for city bakers and there is usually a surplus, the present ration for bakers supplying rural areas is completely insufficient; and, if so, if he will have the matter examined with a view to providing a differential in favour of bakers supplying rural areas.
With the consent of the Ceann Comhairle, I propose to take Questions Nos. 8 and 9 together.
All persons who are engaged on heavy manual labour and who find it necessary to take meals to work may obtain supplementary rations of bread or flour.
I intend to arrange for the issue of supplementary rations to harvest workers.
I cannot agree, however, that the existing ration is completely insufficient in country areas, and in any event fear that it would be impracticable to arrange that bakers who supply country areas and holiday resorts should be issued with additional quantities of flour. I will, however, at the request of the Deputy, look into the question further.
Is the Minister aware that an application has been made by the Guild of Master Bakers for a 25 per cent. increase in their bread ration during the months of July, August, September and October? What is his answer?
What I have said. There are many practical difficulties in providing for any such differential rationing system. I will look into the matter, however, but I doubt if it would be practicable to do anything.
There is already a differential between the price of flour in city areas and the price in rural areas. Why not give a similar differential in the ration of bread between the city areas and the rural areas?
I am afraid one does not follow from the other.
asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce whether he will make available extra rations of flour to the congested area of West Cork.
A system of differential rationing would be very difficult, if not impossible, to operate and I regret that I cannot see my way to introduce it.
In view of the fact that areas of this nature are in a peculiar position, would the Minister consider having the matter investigated by the Parliamentary Secretary to the Government, who is apparently going to deal with questions that may arise in the Gaeltacht or semi-Gaeltacht areas?
It will be understood that people who do heavy manual work, such as bog workers and harvest workers, get an additional ration, but the introduction of a different ration in one area from another would lead to many practical difficulties and, while I have not finally made up my mind as to the practicability, I doubt if it will prove to be possible.
The Minister is aware that in the areas I have referred to, apart from the question of heavy manual work altogether, the position of bread or flour in the diet is unique as compared with other areas?
I understand that.
Will the Minister not consider recognising the difficulty of rationing flour and bring about the abolition of rationing altogether?
That would be the ideal solution.