asked the Minister for Energy the present position regarding the building of a briquette factory at Ballyforan, County Roscommon; the cost of site development for the briquette factory; if any of the fixed fittings which were provided on the site have been sold recently; the cost of purchase of same; and the reasons for which they were sold.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - County Roscommon Briquette Factory.
15.
There are no proposals at present before me for the building of a briquette factory at Ballyforan. In 1984, Bord na Móna evaluated the solid fuel market and concluded that the output from Ballyforan could not be absorbed at an economic price. Having considered the serious implications which additional borrowings would place on the board's operations, they decided to defer this project.
The board reviewed this decision in 1985 and again concluded that the project should continue to be deferred. The board's financial position has since weakened as a result of two bad production harvests in 1985 and 1986.
The cost of the site development for the proposed factory was £1.2 million. As no fixed fittings other than poles for floodlighting were placed on the site, the question of sales therefrom does not arise.
There is not at this time a prospect of early revival of the project. The possibility of sale of machinery for which there is no foreseeable use cannot be ruled out, but no decision on this has yet been taken by the board. The development expenditures on the complex of bogs have, of course, enabled production of milled peat to take place and this is being absorbed by the ESB.
First, I would like to inform the Minister——
A question, please, Deputy.
——that the floodlighting poles have been removed. Would the Minister not accept that it is very surprising, for a project which is reputedly examined on an ongoing basis, that some of the capital works such as the floodlighting poles which were installed there in 1984 in connection with site works which the Minister has stated cost £1.2 million should be removed?
Yes, I would find that to be so in relation to the floodlighting because the information available on my file which I have just read to the House is that no fixed fitting other than the poles for floodlighting were placed on the site and that this question does not arise. I shall have immediate questions asked as to how I got that information on my file.
Is the Minister aware that his colleagues the Minister for Finance, Deputy MacSharry, the Minister for Industry and Commerce, Deputy Reynolds, the Minister for State at the Department of Finance, Deputy Treacy, the Minister of State at the Department of Health, Deputy Leyden, together with Deputies Kitt and Doherty, gave a publicly recorded commitment that on the return of Fianna Fáil to Government in 1984——
A U-turn.
——they would proceed immediately with the construction of the briquette factory? Have his party in Government abandoned that idea on a national level?
On the contrary, this matter is being kept under ongoing review by Bord na Móna. Of course, that board, as the Deputy will be only too well aware, had two very bad years in 1985 and 1986. Thankfully, for 1987, with the encouragement that we have given to Bord na Móna and the extra funding that we received from the EC under the Valoren package——
Stop talking about the weather.
——Bord na Móna's prospects are looking much more optimistic.
Fianna Fáil are taking the role of God now.
Order, please.
Bord na Móna have a much more optimistic future under this administration. As well as that, Derryfada bog, which is the bog associated with Ballyforan, comprises of about 16,347 acres of which 3,000 are being used for the production of milled peat for the ESB generating station which is operating at present. We see a great future for Bord na Móna in the Derryfada area and as far as Ballyforan is concerned that is a matter which is being kept under active review.
Can the Minister tell us whether Bord na Móna submitted detailed proposals for further development in Ballyforan and for other than a briquette factory?
I do not have such information on the file.
Is it not true that that document was given to the Minister last May?
Sorry?
Is it not true that a document outlining a major development project for Ballyforan was submitted to the Minister by the board of Bord na Móna last May?
Bord na Móna have generally shown an interest in the development of forestry and as part of their package made proposals in regard to forestry. The Government, however, in the Programme for National Recovery decided that the development of forestry, in which Bord na Móna do not have a direct role, should be the specific responsibility of a new semi-State organisation.
May I take it that the Minister has rejected the proposals submitted by Bord na Móna?
The Deputy may not take it that I have rejected the proposals. What I am saying is that Bord na Móna envisaged a primry role for themselves in the development of forestry but that is not the way in which we see forestry being developed in this country. All proposals for the future development of forestry are at present being looked at by the Minister of State with responsibility for forestry and they will be the subject of immediate consideration for the new board on forestry development as soon as it is established.
May I take it——
We cannot dwell on this question interminably. I want to try to deal with other questions also. Let me bring in Deputy Carey at this stage for a final supplementary.
I was interested to hear the Minister's response and of the Government's decision to take the cutaway bogs away from Bord na Móna, to give them to the Department of Energy and then to the new company. Would the Minister agree that Bord na Móna have spare capacity?
A Cheann Comhairle, are we dealing with Question No. 23 now? I would like to get in on it if we are.
I presume the Deputy is dealing with Question No. 15.
It is a matter which will come up under Question No. 23.
Perhaps the Deputy would wait.