asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if the Electricity Supply Board have made any surveys into the possibility of generating electricity from small rivers throughout the country; and if so, if he will state the results of these investigations.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Electricity from Small Rivers.
The board has been engaged for a considerable time on a comprehensive examination of all the water power resources of the country. Excluding sites on the Shannon, Liffey and Erne, the board has under observation 14 other rivers. Six or seven of these might be classed as smaller rivers. All these sites are under hydrometric observation. A preliminary project has been completed for the Torc River, County Kerry. Site surveys have been completed on the Comeragh River, County Kerry, and the Clady, County Donegal.
Having regard to the demand for electricity, it will be appreciated that in general the development of the larger schemes must precede that of the small schemes.