Vol. 316 No. 8
asked the Minister for Industry, Commerce and Energy if Coal Distributors Limited have intimated that a further price rise application to the National Prices Commission will be made shortly; if he is aware of the adverse effect that further price rises in coal will have on family living costs and if he will make a statement on the matter.
410.
asked the Minister for Industry, Commerce and Energy if any coal price rise applications have been received which would come into effect during the coming winter.
With the permission of the Ceann Comhairle, I propose to take Questions Nos. 408 and 410 together.
I would refer the Deputy to the reply which I gave on 25 October, 1979 to a similar question from him on applications for fuel price increases. In that reply I stated that, in accordance with section 25 of the Prices Act, 1958, all particulars of price increase applications on hands must be treated as confidential.
It is not permissible, therefore, to give the further information now sought by the Deputy.
As regards the effect of coal price increases on living costs, I can assure the Deputy that, since assuming office, I made every effort to ensure that only the absolute minimum of price increases is passed on to the consumer.
