asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if he will state what progress has been made in the development of plans for the utilisation of wind-power for the generation of electricity.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Electricity from Wind-Power.
I am informed by the Electricity Supply Board that during the autumn and winter of 1950, six wind velocity measuring stations were erected in County Donegal. The readings are now complete from Blue Stack Mountain, Slieve Leahan near Glencolumbkille and Malin Head. The readings are being continued for a second year at Bloody Foreland, Crocknafarragh near Crolly and Slieve Tooey near Glencolumbkille.
The information received from the readings of the six measuring stations in Donegal was sufficiently favourable to warrant erection of further measuring stations on the west coast of the country to obtain fuller information. Eleven such stations have been erected and are in operation.
The board has no immediate plans for the erection of wind-powered stations. Certain pioneering work on the production of electricity from wind is proceeding in Britain and on the Continent and the board awaits the results of these experiments.
Is it true that some of these additional stations were erected in Connemara with a view to determining how far the generation of electricity by wind-power would be integrated with such water power available for the purpose of providing electricity in Connemara?
There are 11 stations on the west coast and none in Ballaghaderreen.
Is there any possibility of erecting one in Leinster House to harness some of the hot air?
I was thinking of Ballaghaderreen myself.