asked the Minister for Transport and Power if it is proposed to prepare a national fuel policy which will have regard to the need for eliminating waste and of producing electricity by other than the traditional methods.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - National Fuel Policy.
140.
Mr. Barry
There is already in existence a national fuel policy based on:
(a) optimum development of indigenous energy sources;
(b) access to the cheapest markets for imported energy sources;
(c) diversification of sources of energy supply;
(d) the promotion of economy in the use of fuels and
(e) stockpiling against emergency situation.
This policy takes account of the need for the elimination of waste in the use of fuel and, for some time, a scheme has been in operation under which grants are payable to industrial firms and to hotels for surveys of their boiler plants by expert consultants with a view to improving the performance of their plants.
In present circumstances, nuclear power is the only alternative to traditional methods for the production of electricity and the question of providing a nuclear generation plant is under active consideration. I hope to make an early announcement in the matter.
The Deputy is probably aware that the E.S.B. are constructing a pumped storage scheme at Turlough Hill, County Wicklow, an innovation in this country, but using traditional methods of generating electricity.
Would the Minister consider the electrification of railways in view of the threat to world oil supplies?
I do not think electrification of the railways would help the situation seeing that the vast majority of electric power stations depend on oil. You would just be adding another user to the existing electricity consumers. I know that the railways are running on oil at the moment. The broad policy would be to avoid too heavy dependence on one source of energy and try to budget for our needs on that. As I said in my answer, I think the best way of doing this is to provide a nuclear station here in the next eight or nine years which will decrease our dependence on the supply of oil.
If the railways used electricity we would not need so much oil.
I shall have a look at it if the Deputy wishes but I do not think there would be a significant saving in that regard.
Is the Minister aware of any experiments going on in regard to electricity production by means of solar energy.
No, I am not.
I understand that unless there are major strikes of oil there will be a problem in years to come.
That is quite true but I am not aware of any experiments to harness solar energy.