The ESB has been operating a 40 MW peat fired power station at Bellacorrick since 1962. This plant was scheduled for closure in 2004. The tripartite agreement which was signed in February 2000 between my Department, ESB management and the ESB group of unions, provides for the phased closure of all existing peat fired power stations, including Bellacorrick, to be dovetailed with the coming on stream of two new ESB peat fired power stations at Lanesboro and Shannonbridge. The ESB is steadily on course with design, planning and preparations for the construction of the two new plants by 2004 and closure of Bellacorrick will proceed, as scheduled within this framework.