asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce (a) if he will give any reason why c.i.f. shipping rates from Liverpool to Killybegs should be so much higher than those from Liverpool to other ports in the West; and (b) if he is aware that a recent cargo of bitumen imported by Donegal County Council cost 5/- more per ton at Killybegs pier than if brought by rail from Dublin, and £1 11s. per ton more than it would cost if transported by sea to Galway, Ballina or Westport, and £2 per ton more than if transported by sea to Sligo from Liverpool.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Shipping Rates to Donegal Port.
Mr. Lynch
A schedule of freight rates for a certain number of items of traffic carried by tramp vessels in the coasting trade is issued by the Chamber of Shipping, London. The specified items do not, however, include bitumen.
My attention was directed in 1951 to the level of scheduled freight rates on certain cargoes to Killybegs. It was suggested that the Killybegs Harbour Commissioners should make representations to the Chamber of Shipping. These representations were supported officially. In consequence, at the next revision of freights the rates to Killybegs were brought into line with those applicable to the port of Sligo.
I have no information as to the freights charged on bitumen to the different ports. If there are differentials of the order of those quoted by the Deputy I would suggest that the matter should be raised by the Killybegs Harbour Commissioners with the Chamber of Shipping.