asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if, with a view to ensuring that a reasonable price will be obtainable for hand-won turf, he will endeavour to see that the Army, Office of Public Works and local authorities will this year purchase at least as much hand-won turf as they did last year; and if, in addition, he will advise private industrial firms also to purchase hand-won turf this year.
Ceisteanna — Questions. Oral Answers. - Hand-Won Turf.
It may be assumed that central and local government authorities will have due regard to Government policy regarding the use of native fuels in arranging their fuel requirements in 1953. Private industrial firms have also been made aware of the Government's wishes in this regard.
Might I ask the Minister if his attention has been directed to one consideration which may seriously interfere with the Government's desire to get turf burned in domestic fires and that is the popular belief, which I suspect is well-founded, that it does precipitate the danger of chimneys going on fire? Would the Minister consider asking the Turf Development Board to make some scientific investigation into some method of obviating that risk which results from excessive soot formation in the average domestic chimney where turf is burned?
The research department of Bord na Móna have, in fact, carried out a number of investigations and I think the results have been published.
It would be a great help if some publicity could be given to the matter of clearing a chimney readilyor avoiding excessive soot formation in a narrow flue.
asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if he will state (1) when quantities of privately produced hand-won turf in the Iveragh peninsula will be purchased and removed by Bord na Móna; (2) if such surplus turf will continue to be bought up to June, and (3) what price per ton will now be paid.
I would refer the Deputy to my reply to a similar question put by him on 11th December, 1952.