asked the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs to explain why pre-fab office accommodation for the Post Office engineering department was purchased from a Welsh firm when the same accommodation could have been supplied by a reputable Kilkenny firm.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Prefab Office Accommodation.
14.
(Dublin South-Central): I assume that the Deputy's question refers to portable steel-clad units which are being used by my Department to accommodate staff or stores or manual telephone exchanges pending the provision of permanent accommodation. It is essential that these units should be robust and capable of being moved easily and quickly to other sites.
The suitability of eight proprietary units on the market, including one made by a Kilkenny firm, was specially considered before it was decided that the type at present in use is the only one which fully meets the Department's requirements. The market will be tested again shortly.
The Minister has emphasised that this is only temporary accommodation and a reputable firm in Kilkenny could have supplied accommodation almost as good as that purchased from the Welsh suppliers. Does the Minister not agree that it makes very little of the Buy Irish campaign? This accommodation could have been acquired within a distance of 25 miles. It would have been suitable and we would have been supporting a small Irish industry.
(Dublin South-Central): We carried out an examination of the units which the Deputy has mentioned. The information available is that they would not be suitable and had not the necessary durability. I understand it is expected that these units will be moved on three or four occasions and that the units to which the Deputy refers have not the necessary durability.
I regret that I have to disagree with the Minister of State on this matter because, from information I have received from parties concerned in this industry——
A question, Deputy, please.
We feel they are not supporting the Buy Irish campaign in this matter. I regret having to put it on the record of the House that the Minister's Department do not seem to be interested in the Buy Irish campaign.
(Dublin South-Central): I stated in my reply that the market will be tested again shortly.