asked the Minister for Energy if he will confirm the report that the ESB have undertaken a site survey in the Skerries, County Dublin area, for the construction of a coal-fired power station; if so, the general capacity and the air pollution levels of such a station; if he will comment on the views of the Director General of the IAEA that a 1,000 MW coal-fired power station produces 15 million tons of ash over a lifetime of 30 years requiring an area of one square kilometre 15 metres high for disposal and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Written Answers. - Skerries (County Dublin) Power Station.
365.
The ESB have informed me that they have carried out a large number of surveys around the country, including the Skerries area. The object of these surveys was to identify suitable locations for the construction of conventional power stations. The survey was merely a contingency measure in case the Government should decide at a future date on the building of conventional generating stations at new sites in addition to those already approved. No specific decision has been taken by the ESB or by the Government regarding the building of such stations, their capacity or location.
I am advised by the ESB that the ash tonnage and volume figures referred to by the Deputy for a 1,000 MW coal-fired power station are approximately 50 per cent greater that those estimated by the ESB.