asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce whether, in view of the proved ability, during the emergency, of Inishowen producers of hand-won turf to produce very large quantities of first-class turf and also having regard to the alleged unsuitability of Inishowen bogs for production of machine-won turf, he will have consideration given to the establishment of a hand-won turf-fired generating station in Inishowen peninsula.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - County Donegal Generating Stations.
The establishment of a turf-fired power station in the Inishowen area is not included in the E.S.B. programme. I am advised that the quantity of hand-won turf surplus to local needs which could be produced in the area would not be sufficient to justify the establishment of a generating station there.
Is the Minister aware that during the recent emergency it was proved by the Inishowen producers that such a surplus could be available there, that Inishowen peninsula produced more turf than the rest of Donegal and that Donegal produced more turf than any other county in the country?
My information is that in 1951, which was probably a typical year, the estimated output of hand-won turf surplus to local requirements available for sale was 6,000 tons. The minimum quantity required for a turf-fired generating station is 30,000 tons.
Surely the Minister is not suggesting that the surplus on hands in 1951 is a fair basis, seeing that the producers are unlikely to produce where there is no market?
There was an active market in 1951.
But there was still asurplus of 6,000 tons. Surely you did not want 30,000 tons that year?
asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce whether in view of the great potential for the production of hand-won turf which exists in the bogs of the Ballybofey, Cloghan, and Glenswilly districts he will have reconsidered the siting of the hand-won turf-fired generating station now proposed to be erected in the Rosses-Gweedore area.
The site of the proposed turf-fired generating station in Donegal has been selected by the E.S.B. and I would not be prepared to ask the board to reconsider its decision in the matter.
I take it the Minister is of opinion that the board must be correct in its findings. I put it to the Minister whether he might further ascertain if it is wise, in all the circumstances, to place this station in an area such as Gweedore or the Rosses where, from my opinion gleaned from that district and from people who know and who live in the district, it is likely that there will not be sufficient turf to keep a turf-fired station going. Would it not be much more convenient to put the station in a district convenient to the bogs of Ballybofey, Cloghan and Glenswilly?
Is this not a speech?
It is like the Deputy's.
If I was wrong, Deputy Blaney was wrong also.
If Deputy Flanagan intends to challenge the ruling of the Chair, the Chair will have to deal with him, and deal with him in a drastic fashion.
Decisions as to the location of this station were taken after investigation of all points that required examination. I am not prepared to suggest to the board that they should now scrap all the work they have done and start all overagain. I am quite certain that, if I were to give them that direction, it would put back the establishment of this station for a considerable period.