Vol. 516 No. 6
182 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Public Enterprise the long-term proposals for the development of the peat power station in north Mayo; when the report commissioned on this station will be completed; if the plant will close in 2004 as previously proposed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8997/00]
183 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Public Enterprise the long-term proposals for the future development of Bord na Móna in County Mayo; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8998/00]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 182 and 183 together.
In my reply to a parliamentary question on 29 September 1999, I indicated that it was the intention of the ESB to undertake a feasibility study around 2000 to determine the condition of the plant at Bellacorrick and assess the options for its future use.
On 17 February 2000, I announced the agreement of a tripartite process comprising representatives from my Department, ESB management and the ESB group of unions which set out a new framework for the electricity industry. The position on the future of Bellacorrick is now overtaken by this agreement.
The agreement on peat stations is that two new state of the art peat stations, to be owned by the ESB, will be built over the next few years in addition to the state of the art peat-fired plant currently under construction in the east midlands by Edenderry Power Limited. In the meantime, those existing peat stations, including Bellacorrick, currently producing electricity will operate under an interim public service obligation arrangement for up to five years to be dovetailed with the coming on stream of the new stations and to facilitate orderly closure.
Both the ESB and Bord na Móna will be involved in formulating proposals for the implementation of the agreement.
