asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if he will state when work will start on the development of the Gowlane bog in County Sligo, and when the generating station will be in production.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Gowlane Bog Development.
I am informed that the development of this bog for the supply of turf to an electricity generating station has been under examination by a joint technical committee consisting of representatives of the E.S.B. and of Bord na Móna. Bord na Móna has recently advised the committee that, following a detailed survey of the area and discussions with the Land Commission, it was found that the area of bog which would be available after the needs of the Land Commission for turbary allotment for domestic requirements had been satisfied would not be sufficient to provide adequate supplies for a power station. The possibility of developing the area for machine-won turf production for ordinary commercial sale is being examined by Bord na Móna but I am not in a position at this stage to give any indication of what the result of this examination may be.