asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce whether the sudden decision by Bord na Móna to change over the production of turf on Boora bog from sod to milled peat production was taken with his approval and whether any prior consultation was held with representatives of the workers.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Turf Production in Offaly.
Mr. O'Higgins
Mr. O'Higgins
asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce when the heavy machinery, announced by Bord na Móna to be transferred from Lullymore to Boora bog, will be in operation and whether, in the meantime, any step will be taken to provide employment for the workers at Boora camp.
Mr. O'Higgins
asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce whether he is aware that Bord na Móna have recently dismissed hundreds of men formerly employed at Boora bog in County Offaly and that at the moment only a small maintenance staff at the camp is retained in the board's employment; and, if so, whether he will state what steps he proposes to take to deal with the situation.
Mr. O'Higgins
asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce whether he will state the total cost of the sod turf scheme at Boora bog.
I propose, with the permission of the Ceann Comhairle, to answer the Questions Nos. 28-31 together.
The question as to the suitability of milled peat for use in the firing of boilers at electricity generating stations has been under examination for a long time. There have been consultations on the subject between Bord na Móna and the Electricity Supply Board, and recently it has been dealt with in reports submitted by the representative of a firm of consultants engaged under the E.C.A. Technical Assistance Project. Having considered the results of the examination I decided that certain bogs which are being prepared to provide fuel for generating stations should be developed for the production of milled peat, and this decision was applied in the case of the Boora bogs, where development for sod turf production had commenced but had not been completed. It is not correct that hundreds of men formerly employed at Boor have been dismissed. No workers have been dismissed recently at Boora. Some of the workers residing in the hostel have been transferred to other works of Bord na Móna where they are required, and it is intended to transfer the remainder of the men accommodated in the hostel to other bogs where hostel accommodation is available and where their services are required.
Owing to the change over to milled peat, it has become possible at present to continue development work solely with local labour and, consequently, as further labour is required, it is the board's intention to recruit local workers so long as the numbers available locally are adequate to meet the board's needs. Heavy machinery transferred from Lullymore works to Boora went into operation on the 11th of the present month and further machinery will be transferred from Lullymore during this week. The estimated cost of the full development of the Boora bog for the production of sod turf was £1,150,000, of which the actual expenditure to date is approximately £500,000. While it is estimated that about £150,000 of this expenditure could be regarded as unproductive as a result of the recent decision to change over to milled peat, the savings on production costs using the milled peat methods will, over the life of the Boora bogs proper, amount to at least £2,500,000. When adjacent bogs in the Boora basin are brought into production, the total estimated saving over the life of the bogs which will be affected by the change over to milled peat will amount to an over-all figure estimated at £4,000,000. This saving arises from the fact that the work is fully mechanised. Apart from this considerable saving in money, the milled peat process presents the prospect of a solution of other problems, including that of labour supply anticipated in connection with this development.
Can the Minister give the date of his decision on this very important matter? Is he aware that 73 workers were transferred last Monday week at about 48 hours' notice and that, since that, the number of persons catered for in the hostel has increased? Is the Minister further aware that on Saturday last the officials in charge did not know how the men were going to be employed on the following Monday? Does the Minister not agree that that is a most undesirable state of affairs?
I do not think the Deputy's information is correct. I understand that 67 workers have already been transferred and that the remaining 92 are about to be transferred. I should think that locally it would be regarded as desirable that further labour to be employed in that bog will, so far as is practicable, be recruited locally.
What is the maximum number of persons, local or otherwise, likely to be employed when the new scheme comes into operation?
I cannot say.
What is to be done with the hostel when the workers leave it?
The hostel will not be required at present but it will probably be required later for the housing of seasonal workers.
What amount of capital is likely to be burned when this scheme comes into operation elsewhere and in Boora?
I am not sure what the Deputy means by that question. I have mentioned that if the decision to use milled peat had been taken before work started on the bog a saving of £150,000 might have been achieved. However, the fact that that expenditure had been incurred is no reason for not making the change now when we anticipate that the saving resulting from the change will be in the neighbourhood of £2,500,000.
Does the £150,000 which the Minister has mentioned include expenditure incurred by the Electricity Supply Board?
No.
Question No. 32.
On behalf of Deputy O'Higgins, I wish to raise this matter on the Adjournment.
The Deputy cannot do that.