Vol. 223 No. 7
asked the Minister for Transport and Power if Bord na Móna have acquired contracts in institutions by tendering a lower price than that tendered by suppliers of native coal; and if the Board have now asked that their price be increased and that the increased price be made retrospective.
6.
asked the Minister for Transport and Power how many institutions in the province of Connaught Bord na Móna have supplied with turf briquettes during (a) 1962, (b) 1963, (c) 1964 and (d) 1965.
I propose, with your permission, a Cheann Comhairle, to take Questions Nos. 5 and 6 together.
I am informed by Bord na Móna that contracts for the supply of turf to various institutions are undertaken directly by the Board; institutional contracts are also supplied by fuel merchants or others with turf produced by the Board. Contracts are usually placed on a year to year basis and the price charged, either for direct or indirect contracts, is the Board's normal price as fixed from time to time.
Bord na Móna are not in a position to say whether the price tendered is less than that quoted by suppliers of native coal. In the majority of institutions supplied by the Board native coal is unlikely to be tendered at all; they are aware of only two institutions where native coal has been replaced by Bord na Móna turf in recent years.
I am also informed by Bord na Móna that the number of institutions in Connaught supplied with turf briquettes during the years in question were:—
|
1962 |
— |
five |
1964 |
— |
eight |
|
1963 |
— |
seven |
1965 |
— |
ten |
The Board's current prices have been in operation since June, 1965, and in no case has a retrospective increase on these prices been sought. An application for increase in prices is at present under consideration by the Minister for Industry and Commerce.
