asked the Minister for Industry, Commerce and Energy if, in view of the deposits of natural gas around this country's shores, he will empower An Bord Gáis to take full control of the gas industry in this country by taking into public owner-ship the Dublin Gas Company and related gas companies throughout the country.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Gas Industry.
8.
The only economically exploitable deposit of natural gas discovered so far in Irish waters is that off Kinsale. I am having an investigation carried out into the economic feasibility of making an allocation from this deposit to Dublin and possibly some other centres. Pending consideration in due course of the outcome of this investigation and the possible discovery of further deposits of natural gas, consideration of the question of whether the gas industry in Dublin and other centres should be brought under public ownership would be premature. I might add that as at present constituted Bord Gáis Éireann is not empowered to take over town gas undertakings.
Could I ask the Parliamentary Secretary if she is sure about the information she gave in the last part of the question, that they are not empowered to take over undertakings?
Bord Gáis Éireann was established under the Gas Act, 1976. The Act does not contain powers to enable the board to take over town gas undertakings. This matter was considered, as the Deputy opposite knows, when the Bill was being prepared, but it was felt it would be premature to give the board these powers.
I think there is an all-embracing section in the Bill that would allow them to do it. The reply states that the Minister is to conduct an investigation in regard to the Kinsale gas field. Is the Parliamentary Secretary aware that this gas is due to come ashore in the next six months and that it was due to be allocated entirely to Cork undertakings? Is the Minister now proposing to deprive one of those undertakings of natural gas despite the fact that they have involved themselves in capital expenditure?
No. I am fully aware of what the Deputy has mentioned. In regard to the ESB, gas has been allocated in the Cork area. An official of this Department and an official from the Department of Finance, with a firm of consultants were asked by the Minister at the end of September to study the use of natural gas in Dublin and to report back to him within two months. The longer term question of dealing with future finds of natural gas has been deferred until such time as the Dublin aspect has been fully considered.
Perhaps I misheard the Parliamentary Secretary, whom understood to say that the Minister is engaged in a study to decide whether natural gas from Kinsale could be allocated to Dublin.
I said that the Minister is having an investigation carried out to examine the feasibility of having an allocation to Dublin and possibly to some other centres.
Does that not mean that, if he decides to allocate gas to other centres, one of those undertakings in Cork which have engaged in considerable capital expenditure to allow them to take the gas will have wasted that money?
I do not agree that is the case. However, the information the Deputy has asked for is not available.
Is it not true that if the produce of this deposit has been allocated 100 per cent to undertakings in Cork and if the Minister now proposes to take the gas from them the capital investment undertaken by those companies will have been wasted?
That is a separate question.
There will be lots of gas for everyone.
Why did the Deputy not put down his own question?
With your permission, Sir, I should like to raise this matter on the Adjournment if the Minister can be present.
The Chair will communicate with the Deputy.