Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Tuesday, 25 Mar 1952

Vol. 130 No. 3

Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Coal Imports.

Mr. McGrath

asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if he will indicate (a) the quantity of American coal imported into Cork and Dublin in each of the last six months; (b) the quantity purchased by merchants in these months; (c) the quantity of English coal imported in the same months; (d) the cost per ton of (i) the American and (ii) the English coal imported in each case; (e) the present prices per ton of coal in Cork and Dublin, and (f) whether in view of the small quantity of American coal involved, he has satisfied himself that the present prices are justified in those cities.

Mr. Lemass

I propose, with the permission of the Ceann Comhairle, to have circulated with the Official Report a statement giving particulars requested by the Deputy at (a) to (d) of his question. The present retail price of coal in both Dublin and Cork is £8 5s. per ton. As the Deputy is probably aware this price came into operation on 24th March, 1952, and represents a reduction of 15/- per ton on the prices previously ruling. In fixing the reduced price regard was had to the increased availability of British coal.

I

		Imports of General Purposes American Coal	Purchases of General Purpose American Coal by Merchants	Imports of British Household Coal
		Dublin	Cork	Dublin	Cork	Dublin	Cork
	Month	Tons	Tons	Tons	Tons	Tons	Tons
1951	September	29,167	7,253	29,167	7,253	9,981	7,395
	October	19,847	18,214	19,847	14,234	33,261	9,442
	November	42,253	17,012	13,106	8,008	26,296	6,671
	December	38,513	9,290	—	4,561	33,983	6,408
1952	January	27,392	9,112	205	984	16,818	8,546
	February	28,277	—	5,186	212	28,497	9,978

II.—The c.i.f. cost of American coal at both ports throughout the period was £7 12s. 4d. per ton.

III.—The average c.i.f. cost of British household coal during the period, September to December 1951, was as follows:—

		Dublin	Cork
		£	s.	d.	£	s.	d.
1951	September	5	4	5	5	10	9
	October	5	5	8	5	16	11
	November	5	1	9	5	12	6
	December	5	2	11	5	15	9

Information is not available as to the average c.i.f. cost of British household coal since 1st January, 1952. From that date, however, the f.o.b. cost of British coal increased by amounts ranging from 5/- to 20/- per ton.