asked the Minister for Transport and Power if he will encourage Bord na Móna to develop the peat industry in west Cavan.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Peat Industry.
46.
I am informed by Bord na Móna that the bogs in County Cavan are not suitable for development on a commercial basis by present methods. The bog areas are too small and in parts of the county the terrain is not suitable for machine harvesting.
Am I to take it that by the use of the words "by present methods" the Minister thinks there may be other methods for developing such bogs? Am I to take it that Bord na Móna are carrying out research in that line? I am not referring merely to my own constituency because there are many bogs which could be the subject of research for development.
I appreciate that. Up to the time of the oil crisis in 1973 many of the bogs which Bord na Móna are looking at again were considered uneconomic and some of these bogs are now suitable for development because of the higher price available for turf. Bogs in County Cavan, and in other parts of the country, still do not come within that category. I cannot say what technological advances there might be in the future to allow the development of these bogs and my reply today does not close the door on development of any bogs.
Would the Minister encourage Board na Móna to do some research in the west Cavan area which is badly hit employment-wise?
I am anxious that Bord na Móna would continually research methods for developing the total bog area here but the Deputy must be aware that there are economic constraints in that the price they would get for the turf they would harvest from any bog must be taken into their calculations.