asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce the reasons why Banagher area, County Offaly, was rejected by the Government as a suitable site for the nitrogenous fertilizer factory in view of the fact that conditions in general are more suitable for the establishment of this industry in this area than in any other part of the country.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Offaly Factory Site.
18.
In August, 1958, the Government decided that the Blackwater Bog, Offaly, should be reserved as a source of fuel should a decision be taken that the proposed State nitrogenous fertiliser factory would be based on the use of peat. In the event, however, the Government decided that the factory would be based on the use of fuel oil and Avoca pyrites and this decision led naturally to the selection of the Arklow area as the appropriate location of the factory. In August, 1961, it was announced that Bord na Móna had requested that the Blackwater Bog should be released for the production of milled peat for electricity generation, the purpose for which this bog was originally developed, and the Government acceded to this request.