asked the Minister for Industry and Energy if he will initiate a survey to assess the tidal energy prospect of Loughros Mor and Loughros Beg Bay, County Donegal.
Written Answers. - County Donegal Tidal Energy Survey.
592.
The question of tidal power at Loughros Mor and Loughros Beg has been looked at carefully by my Department and the services of both the National Board for Science and Technology and the ESB have been employed to assess the potential of the area for a tidal energy scheme.
I am advised that the combined opinion of these bodies is that the cost of building such a scheme far outweighs the benefits that could be gained from it at present. The matter of tidal energy is under continual review by my Department, but the fact is that tides, except in unusual circumstances, are not at present considered to be an economic source of energy.