I move that the Bill be now read a Second Time. The purpose of this Bill, as the House is aware, is to enable Bord na Móna to join with Messrs. Arthur Guinness Son and Company (Dublin) Limited in establishing and maintaining a Chair of Industrial Microbiology at University College, Dublin. Towards the end of last year Messrs. Guinness, who have displayed a deep interest in scientific education and research, approached Bord na Móna with this proposal. While the board were more than willing to participate in the project with Messrs. Guinness, they found that their statutory powers were not adequate to enable them to do so. The purpose of this Bill is to provide the necessary powers for the board.
Bord na Móna already have powers under Section 19 of the Turf Development Act, 1946, to carry out their own researches and experiments, and the achievements of their experimental station at Newbridge clearly indicate what can be done by organised research on peat problems. Since its establishment the resources of this station have been devoted to the improvement of methods of draining bogland and cutting, harvesting and utilising turf and turf products. A great number of new processes and machines have been designed and developed at the station with these objects in view. The outcome of this research has been to improve considerably the efficiency and productivity of all the board's operations and, as a result, the cost of production of the board's products has been maintained at a reasonably stable level.
Microbiology is an important science with wide applications in the medical, agricultural and chemical fields. It is generally accepted that research in the microbiology field is at present inadequately covered in this country. Bord na Móna and Messrs. Guinness regard it as important that such research should be undertaken on a bigger scale and that it should be established on a practical basis with clear objectives.
The main object of the research, which it is proposed to conduct at University College, Dublin, is the study of industrial and soil microbiology applied to turf, that is, to investigate the activities of microorganisms which might be used to promote chemical changes in peat and extend its uses as an industrial raw material. Research of this nature must be fundamental and academic and in order to pursue it properly it is necessary to avail of the conditions and atmosphere of university life.
In addition to research work, courses will also be conducted for students. Spectacular developments at an early date cannot be expected, yet it is only by such scientific work that the major discoveries of our time are made. Peat is an organic substance and it is generally true to say that all organic chemicals can be produced from it. The scope for research activity in peat problems is, therefore, very wide and on that account it would not be possible to give any indication at this stage of the lines along which the work at University College, Dublin, will proceed.
As Deputies are aware, there is in existence an organisation established by the State to carry out industrial research, the Institute for Industrial Research and Standards. The research work in microbiology envisaged in the present proposal will consist principally of pure research, and will be of a long-term nature and confined to a highly specialised field; in addition certain teaching activities will be carried on. The Institute for Industrial Research and Standards was set up to deal with specific practical problems arising in industry and in general the investigations undertaken by it are of a short-term nature. It would not be appropriate, therefore, that the institute should undertake the type of research envisaged by the promoters of the present project.
Turf is already well established as a fuel for the production of electricity and for use in industry and the home. Investigations are at present being carried out into the possibility of utilising it for the production of nitrogenous fertilisers. In addition, as was recently announced, the question of producing town gas from peat is under examination. These large-scale developments can, however, be carried out only on extensive tracts of bogland. For some time the board has been considering the question of extending its operations to the smaller bog areas which contain the greater part of our total peat resources. The prospects of profitable exploitation of these small bogs for the production of conventional peat products are not very good, however, as the development of a whole new range of machines and processes would be required. The research into non-conventional fields which it is proposed to carry out at the university may indicate the possibility of producing hitherto unknown high-grade peat products which might provide a better solution for the development of our western blanket and hill bogs.
There is considerable scope for increased expenditure on industrial research in this country. The main reason for this is, no doubt, that many firms have not got sufficient resources to conduct research in their own premises. This need not, however, preclude such firms from participating actively in research work as they have the alternative of assisting in the financing of research at educational establishments, either individually or in co-operation with other firms. To encourage this, provision was made in the Finance Act, 1957, for certain tax concessions in respect of covenanted annual payments to universities and colleges in the State for research purposes. It is hoped that this provision and the example now being set by two such important industrial organisations as Bord na Móna and Messrs. Guinness will encourage other firms to consider undertaking similar co-operative ventures.
Messrs. Guinness have at all times taken a sympathetic interest in the development of our peat resources and, as the House is aware, they have already undertaken to lend £500,000 to the board towards the cost of setting up the first briquetting factory at Boora, County Offaly. The new development now proposed is but another example of the practical way in which the company is prepared to co-operate with one of our most important national undertakings and I should like to take this opportunity of again expressing the Government's appreciation for their action.
The initial cost of the establishment of the proposed chair is estimated at £10,000 and the cost of maintenance and administration at about £6,000 per annum. It is the intention that the expenditure involved will be borne equally by the board and the company. As there is no doubt whatever that this money will be well spent, I confidently recommend this Bill for the approval of the House.