asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce whether Bord na Móna propose this season to make their machine-won turf available for general purchase, or to restrict its use to the power stations.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Sale of Machine-won Turf.
I am informed by Bord na Móna that the only bogs where supplies of machine turf are at present freely available for general sale are those at Lanesboro', County Longford, and Glenties, County Donegal. Existing stocks of saleable turf at all other bogs must be reserved to meet the requirements of industries, institutions and local authority fuel schemes with whom Bord na Móna has fixed commitments, and the requirements of the E.S.B. power stations.
Might I ask the Parliamentary Secretary to indicate what steps the Government propose to take to make fuel available to private persons in the areas not covered by Lanesboro' or Glenties?
Ask the Minister for Local Government.
We do not expect to have any shortage of fuel, as far as coal is concerned, during the coming winter, and in the springtime of the year the matter will be further reviewed. It is hoped there will be turf supplies available at that time from the other bogs.
Has it occurred to the Parliamentary Secretary that it is a great deal more inconvenient for the person with a turf hearth to burn coal than it is for an industrial user? He might explain to the House why the unfortunates who have an ordinary turf hearth and who do their cooking in a pot oven, are to be made dependent on coal after the activities of Bord na Móna have substantially ended the normal supplies of turf that used to be brought into the towns in carts for sale? There were many parts of the country where we used to have carts of turf being brought into the towns for sale but that has been dropped now——
Would the Deputy just put the question?
Would the Minister consider the special difficulty of the person with the pot oven?
The Deputy should take into consideration the type of fuel we have.
Is the Parliamentary Secretary not aware that it would be possible for the Allenwood power station to use coal and that it is not possible for private people with flat hearths to use coal? Will he not, therefore, say that Bord na Móna should switch their machine-won turf from power stations to private users, so that those who can use coal will be able to do so and those who cannot will have turf available?
The Bord will have to use coal this season.
Is the Parliamentary Secretary not aware that there are many flat hearths throughout County Kildare where turf is always burned, and that includes my own house? These hearths are utterly unsuitable for coal and the Allenwood station could use coal.
I have seen coal used in a flat hearth.
Did the Taoiseach ever see it used with a pot oven?
Quite commonly.
They must have made queer bread in your area.
Deputy Sweetman never saw coal used in a flat hearth.
I cannot hear the Parliamentary Secretary. He is too cross. I know they have to put on a show for the boys up in the Gallery.
In many respects the Deputy differs from us.
Order! Deputies should allow the Minister to answer the question.