Vol. 429 No. 6
40 Mr. Connor asked the Minister for Transport, Energy and Communications if he has completed his examination of options on the future of the coal burning power station at Arigna, County Roscommon; and if he will make a statement on the future of the station and the employment it provides in the area.
I have examined the various studies carried out on the Arigna power station. Unfortunately I see no reasons to depart from the conclusions of the most recent report carried out by independent consultants who concluded that the continued operation of the station past its proposed closure date is not a competitive proposition. I indicated recently at a meeting with a delegation of Oireachtas Members from the Arigna area that the key issues are the cost, availability and quality of local coal and the necessary investment needed in the station itself.
I can see no basis for intervening in the ESB's decision to close the station unless local interests can come forward with a convincing case based on coal supplies and cost. I have been assured by the ESB that there is no question of compulsory redundancy for workers at the station.
