asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if he will request the Electricity Supply Board to survey the Dungloe, County Donegal, chain of lakes with a view to having them harnessed.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Harnessing of Donegal Lakes.
In connection with the preparation of the present development programme of the Electricity Supply Board, a preliminary survey of the Dungloe, County Donegal, chain of lakes has already been carried out. Following consideration of the results of this survey, I was informed by the board that the estimated output from a power station on this site would be comparatively low and consequently the erection of a station there was not proposed for inclusion in the board's current programme.
Is the Minister aware that there is a potential catchment area of 25 lakes which could be linked up with very little expense? Perhaps, he would request the board to make a further survey in view of that.
I do not think that a further survey is necessary. The possibility of utilising the water of these lakes for power purposes has been under consideration by the board. I, personally, became interested on the representations of the Parliamentary Secretary to the Government, Deputy Lynch. It is possible to utilise that water power, but the capacity of the station would be small in comparison with the capacity of the stations on which the board is concentrating. The Deputy will probably know that I informed the House during the discussion on the Electricity Supply Board Act that I was considering the practibility of supplementing the board's programme with a number of smaller water power stations. If that proves to be possible then, undoubtedly, I will ask the board to consider including those lakes in their programme.