asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce the percentage price increase in bottled gas for domestic purposes over the past year.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Price of Bottled Gas.
47.
Price changes for bottled gas vary considerably according to the size of the container. For the most popular sizes, representing over 80 per cent of the market, the increase in price over the past year was just under 40 per cent. As there is a variety of different sized containers I propose, with the permission of the Ceann Comhairle, to have circulated with the Official Report a tabular statement giving details of individual increases.
Following is the statement:
|
Cylinder Description |
Retail Tax Inclusive price May, 1973 |
Retail Tax Inclusive price May, 1974 |
Price Increase per cylinder |
Percentage price increase |
|
Butane 1kg (2¼ lbs) |
£0.21 |
£0.41 |
£0.20 |
95.2% |
|
Propane 3.8 kg (8½ lbs) |
£0.63 |
£1.15 |
£0.52 |
82.5% |
|
Butane 4.5 kg (10 lbs) |
£0.63 |
£1.17 |
£0.54 |
85.7% |
|
Butane 5 kg (11 lbs) |
£0.59 |
£1.29 |
£0.70 |
118.6% |
|
Propane 11 kg (24 lbs) |
£0.90 |
£1.57 |
£0.67 |
74.4% |
|
Butane 11.343 kg (25 lbs) |
£1.16 |
£1.61½ |
£0.45½ |
39.2% |
|
Propane 12.5 kg (29 lbs) |
£1.47 |
£1.90 |
£0.43 |
29.2% |
|
Butane 14.5 kg (32 lbs) |
£1.47 |
£2.08 |
£0.61 |
41.5% |
|
Propane 34 kg (75 lbs) |
£2.95 |
£4.29 |
£1.34 |
45.4% |
|
Propane 24 lbs |
£1.14 |
£1.59½ |
£0.45½ |
39.9% |
|
Butane 26 lbs |
£1.14 |
£1.59½ |
£0.45½ |
39.9% |
What action can be taken by consumers who can produce evidence that the increase in the price of the popular size is not 40 per cent but 80 per cent over the past year?
I would be very anxious for the Deputy to give me such evidence. Under the Maximum Prices (Household Goods) Order, the retail tax inclusive prices are fixed. Therefore, people who have exceeded these prices are in breach of the law and, given evidence, I would be very happy to prosecute them and to publicise that prosecution.
In the city of Dublin do the Minister's inspectors call periodically? How frequently do they call to check up on establishments involved in the sale of this gas?
Those are matters of detail which I could not answer for the Deputy now. I know that my inspectorate take their responsibilities under these orders very seriously. Within the limits of a difficult situation, because of the wide range of price rises with which we are faced, they are doing their utmost to catch defaulters or people who violate the regulations. In this context I would urge Deputies, as I have done before, to inform the public who come to them that they can provide information also. They can aid the inspectors. Information passed to my Department will be acted on resolutely.
Question No. 48 postponed.