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Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 26 Mar 1981

Vol. 328 No. 2

Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Infrastructural Facilities.

30.

asked the Minister for Energy the plans he has for the development of the necessary infrastructural facilities in western Ireland in the event of a viable oil source coming into operation off the west coast.

The additional infrastructuaral facilities that would be necessary in the event of a commercial discovery of oil off the west coast would be determined by a number of factors, notably the size of the discovery and the method by which it is developed. For example, the infrastructural requirements in the case of a very small find would be very different from what would be necessary to accommodate a large find with major associated downstream developments. The location where additional infrastructural facilities would be required would depend on where the oil is landed which, in turn, could be largely determined by the precise location of the discovery.

As we do not at the moment have answers to any of these questions concerning the location, size, method of development of a discovery or downstream possibilities, it is impossible to make specific provision for the installation of the appropriate facilities. Indeed, as the installation of infrastructure is very costly, it would be imprudent to provide for such facilities until we are certain that a commercial discovery will, in fact, be made.

In view of the fact that an oil discovery off the west coast is likely to be in very deep water and quite severe environmental conditions, a significant period of time will elapse between the announcement of a commercial discovery and the commencement of production of oil. This will give us reasonable time to develop the necessary additional infrastructural facilities at the optimum locations.

However, in order to be in a position to respond quickly if a commercial discovery is announced in any of our offshore areas, my Department, in conjunction with the other relevant Departments, commenced some time ago a preliminary examination of the infrastructuaral facilities that are likely to be required in the event of such a discovery and how each Department can best contribute to the provision of these facilities.

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