asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if he is aware that no fuel is available in Galway City, thereby causing untold hardship, and if he will take steps to have coal made available and arrange for it to be equally distributed to all householders.

Merchants in Galway who are unable to get sufficient coal from their usual sources of supply can obtain supplies to meet the deficiency from the stocks held in Dublin by Fuel Importers (Éire), Limited. That company, however, will not supply merchants who are not importers. Such merchants should arrange to approach Fuel Importers (Éire), Limited, through the importers from whom they normally get supplies.

If the members of the Coal Merchants' Association do not purchase fuel that is so badly needed, will the Parliamentary Secretary allow other people to get coal at the wholesale rate?

The position is that fuel merchants are free to approach Fuel Importers (Éire), Limited, to supply any deficiency, if they are normally importers, in the normal course of their business.

Suppose they do not, will they allow other private people to get the necessary supplies?

I hope that public opinion in Galway will influence the merchants to do their duty.