asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if he will state the maximum quantity of turf so far won in any year from Clonsast Bog, and the average price per ton for such turf, delivered at or near Portarlington, in each year, to date, for which figures are available; to state what percentage of the turf so far produced at Clonsast Bog is suitable for use in a generating station; and further, to state what expenditure has been incurred to date on the proposed generating station near Portarlington.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Electricity Generating Station.
(1) The maximum quantity of turf produced at Clonsast Bog in any one year was in 1944-45, when the quantity produced was 48,323 tons.
(2) The Turf Development Board, Limited, has always sold its turf from Clonsast Bog ex works—which coincides with the site of the power station. The average prices for the following years were:—1939-40, 14s. 6d. per ton; 1940-41, 15s. 9d. per ton; 1941-42, £1 3s. 1d. per ton; 1942-43, £1 7s. 6d. per ton; 1943-44, £1 17s. 2d. per ton; 1944-45, £2 per ton. As less than one-half of the necessary machines have been available, it has not been possible to reach the planned output of 120,000 tons per annum, and this circumstance has had an adverse effect upon the cost of production.
(3) All of the turf so far produced at Clonsast Bog has been suitable for use in an electricity generating station.
(4) The expenditure to date on the Clonsast electricity station amounts to £6,694.