Vol. 435 No. 4
51 Mr. Connor asked the Minister for Transport, Energy and Communications his views on whether Derryfadda, Ballyforan, the site of the abandoned peat briquette factory where in the region of £310 million has been expended in development and infrastructure support, is the appropriate location for the new peat burning station provided in the National Development Plan 1994-1999.
I have recently received a proposal from Bord na Móna for the provision of a new 120MW peat-fired electricity generation station to be located in the East Midlands. Bord na Móna's choice of location was based on the result of a feasibility study which included a detailed survey into available peat resources. The conclusion which Bord na Móna reached was that the most appropriate location for such a station would be the East Midlands where peat resources are greatest. The Derryfadda group of bogs were not considered as containing sufficient peat to supply such a station and therefore not capable of meeting the requirements for the proposed station.
