Vol. 512 No. 3
53 Mr. McDowell asked the Minister for Public Enterprise if, further to Parliamentary Question No. 10 of 3 November 1999, the chairman of the ESB outlined to her the normal percentage of plant on outage; the way in which this compares with installed capacity; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25988/99]
I addressed the issue of power sup ply, including the availability of ESB plant, in my reply to a Dáil question on 24 November 1999. The ESB has informed my Department that there has been an increased level of unscheduled breakdowns over the past two years caused by an unusually high level of faults in some of the larger generating stations. The ESB has examined the cause of these outages and is of the view that this high level will not continue.
I have regular contact with the chairman of ESB. At a meeting with him on 2 November 1999, he gave a categoric assurance that there would be no shortfall in electricity supply during winter 1999 and 2000. I have accepted his word in this matter. Our discussion was not at the level of detail implicit in the question.
