asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if he will arrange to make a supplementary allocation of kerosene, for lighting purposes, in exceptional cases of illness where no alternative lighting is available and hardship ensues.

I am prepared to consider the grant of supplementary allocations in cases where an invalid is confined to bed and requires day and night attendance, but each case must be determined on its merits. The supply position does not enable me to give any general undertaking that supplementary allowances will be given in all cases.

asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if he will state whether, in view of the acute difficulties experienced by citizens resident in large houses in lighting such houses, he will increase the domestic kerosene ration to permit of one lamp for every five rooms at least.

The method of distribution of the domestic ration of paraffin oil has been devised to meet the needs of the majority of households and I could not agree to amend the scheme on the lines suggested by the Deputy. The ration is being increased to two gallons from and including next month.

In view of the very small number of persons who find themselves resident in large rambling houses, one of whom recently wrote to me complaining that he was sitting in a vast room writing to me by the light of one candle, would the Minister consider examining each case on its merits and, where equity demanded it, giving some supplementary allowance so as to relieve this very acute hardship during the winter months?

I consider that the Deputy's suggestion is impracticable. In any case, the increase of the ration to two gallons should go a long way towards removing any such cause of hardship.

Would the Minister consider a case on its merits and if it revealed any peculiar hardship, in view of the fact that the scarcity of kerosene tends to become less acute, deal with it on the merits?

No. I think the only practicable basis of allocating the available supply is that of a flat rate per household.

For the purpose of a permanency, but the Minister will agree that kerosene is becoming more plentiful.

And the ration is being increased next month.

The probability of the ration having to remain, say, next winter, is unlikely. Therefore, for the few months outstanding, could the Minister not contemplate some slight concession to persons circumstanced as I have described?

It would not be practicable to do so. The consideration which the Deputy referred to is only one of very many which would have to be taken into account if an attempt were to be made to distribute the supplies on the basis of individual needs.

The Deputy wants to create a privileged class.

Ah, democracy rampant.