asked the Minister for Transport and Power if Bord na Móna have any plans for the future development of the large tract of bog in the Pettigo area of County Donegal.
11.
Ceisteanna — Questions. Oral Answers. - County Donegal Bog Development.
10.
asked the Minister for Transport and Power if any bogs in County Donegal have been surveyed in preparation for the recently announced Bord na Móna Third Development Programme; and, if so, why no new development in County Donegal has been included in the programme.
I propose, with the permission of the Ceann Comhairle, to take Questions Nos. 10 and 11 together.
I have been informed by Bord na Móna that they have recently re-examined the possibility of expanding mechanical peat production in County Donegal and they are satisfied that there are no further areas capable of development by their present methods. They state that the bogs in the Pettigo area are not capable of being economically developed by their present methods due to physical conditions.
Is the Minister aware that the people of Donegal have been depending on peat fuel for many centuries? The arguments put forward by the experts of Bord na Móna do not seem to stand up to the experience of the people of Donegal who have been using turf. Would he ask Bord na Móna to make available to at least some of the Deputies from Donegal their decision with regard to the Donegal survey generally, in view of the fact that they have already a turf burning power station in Donegal and an expansive Bord na Móna plant which is capable of vast expansion?
I understand the Deputy's concern about Donegal. As he admits the experts of Bord na Móna decided that it would not be economical with their present method of production to go into the Pettigo bogs. According to the experts, there are no further bogs there which can be developed. I do not see how I, or this House, without very good cause, could go against that advice.
Is the Minister aware that one of the things the experts hold against the Pettigo bog is the poor drying conditions which were taken on test by the meteorological people? It is difficult for the average Donegal man who has been saving turf all his life to accept a statement which he does not find practically correct.
I understand that the Donegal bogs are interlaced with a series of small lakes and rivers. This makes it impossible to have long runs for the very big machines which Bord na Móna now possess.
Bord na Móna will be very glad of them in a few years time.
Question No. 12.
I hope they will.