asked the Minister for Energy if he will make a statement on Government policy on the future of the turf industry.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Turf Industry.
8.
Since my appointment as Minister for Energy I have been reviewing policy generally in the resources sector, including turf development policy.
The policy pursued by successive Governments has been to promote the optimum development of turf resources, mainly through the operations of Bord na Móna, and I am continuing to pursue this broad objective.
I am, at the present time, in the course of reviewing a number of issues which will affect this development policy. Among these are the future turf-burning programme of the Electricity Supply Board, the related issue of milled-peat prices and Bord na Móna's bog development and briquette factory project at Derryfadda and Ballyforan.
When my review is completed I will be proposing decisions by the Government which will take reasonable but realistic account of market developments over the last couple of years and the best view which can be taken of future trends. The objective will be to provide a firm, longterm policy framework within which develoment of our turf resources and, in particular, the future prosperity of Bord na Móna, can be securely determined.
Would the Minister agree that it would be a logical step on the part of the Government to determine that turf should be used as the primary product for the generation of electricity, having regard to the fact that it is the one natural resource we possess? We are already lucky enough to possess established power stations designed and developed for the purpose of using it. They have been build, paid for and are in operation.
Given the central importance of the develoment of peat here, historically and at present, it would be my intention that we continue with a programme for the development of our peat resources at maximum possible utility.
May we take it, in view of what has now been said by the Minister for Energy, that it is his and the Government's intention to ensure that all the midland and western bogs at present in production, or scheduled for production, will remain in production and that the proposal of the ESB to close, in whole or in part, 14 power stations — most of them turf-fired — will not be permitted by the Government? Would the Government, in the interests of our turf industry, announce now that there will be no question of these closures?
I would bring to the Deputy's attention the existing situation. The ESB submitted a strategic plan to my Department in July 1983. That strategic plan is at present being evaluated in the Department. In this context, I have requested both the ESB and Bord na Móna to examine the whole area of pricing and usage of milled peat in order to see what developments can take place. Of course, the social, regional, strategic and economic implications of the plan are being and will be taken into account fully before a decision is reached. The matter will be put to the Government when my Department have completed their examination.
Does the Minister realise that if this programme of rationalisation or whatever the ESB choose to call it, is implemented, about half the publicly owned bogs in the midlands and west will be closed down within the next year or two?
It might be over-ambitious to say that I am fully aware of all the implications of the strategic plan. The purpose of the examination by my Department is to ensure that I am fully appraised of all the possibilities in relation to the strategic plan. I am well aware of the implications in relation to the bogs, to our peat resources. As I said from the outset, it is my intention that the development of our peat resources will play a major role in the development of this country.
I should like to suggest to the House that it just is not possible to discuss the future of the peat industry on a Parliamentary Question.
It is very hard to discuss it anywhere else.
We are going nowhere. The peat industry is such an important one for this country.
Where are we to talk about it?
I am sure that Deputy O'Malley will find a way.
Nothing has happened to date.
The Minister knows as well as I do that to——
Order, please.
The Minister knows as well as we do that the strategic plan is fit for nothing but to be thrown into the wastepaper basket.
I might miss the basket.
The Minister in his initial reply mentioned views about various places, among from Derryfadda, Ballyforan. Could he tell us exactly when the review on Derryfadda, Ballyforan, was started, by whom it was commissioned and who is responsible for it? How many people are involved in the review and when exactly will a decision be made on the review? We have heard about this so many times and we are getting general answers. Question Time is for getting specific information. Could we have specific answers?
The Deputy should put down a question.
If the Deputy puts down a question I shall be very pleased to answer it.
The Minister has been trying hard not to answer.
The Deputy got the answers.
I call Deputy Power. He has been offering for a good while.
Does the Minister appreciate that if there is a change in policy now and the bogs are not used to produce fuel to their ultimate, this will mean that cutaway bog cannot play its part in providing jobs in industry, for horticulture, agriculture and biomass in the future? Would he not feel that when one considers the prospects for the turf industry, which in some cases will come to an end within the next decade, one must think further ahead to the provision of industry to replace the jobs which will be lost within this decade when the turf industry reaches its logical conclusion in those areas?
The very reason for needing an economic plan is to cover the points raised by the Deputy. I am well aware of the effects of the closures in the midlands, in Caherciveen and, for that matter, in Donegal and elsewhere.
Does the Minister realise that every additional pound which is being spent on Phases 3 and 4 at Moneypoint is a further nail in the coffin of the turf industry, particularly in the midlands and west? Would he revert to the position, which we thought he had adopted yesterday but on which he has apparently changed his stance today, of directing the ESB that until this further review that he has initiated is completed further moneys should not be spent on that project which is designed to make the bogs and the generating stations dependent on them obsolete?
A considerable amount of money has already been spent on Moneypoint.
A Deputy
One must call a halt.
The Fianna Fáil Party spent a lot of money on Moneypoint.
I must say that I am surprised at the Deputy, considering his involvement in the sanctioning of Moneypoint——
That was in 1978, when we were grossly short on capacity.
——made in good faith at the time and on the best judgment available to him then. I am somewhat surprised that he thinks if I hold out my hand Moneypoint can be stopped. There are long-term contracts and commitments entered into which have to be realised. We should all be aware of that.
The Minister should be looking forward but he is looking backwards. Is he back in 1978?
I have been denied the right to ask a question.
I call Question 9. We have been debating this question for ten minutes.
I have the right to ask a question.
No, Deputy. I have called Question 9. The Deputy asked a question and it has been answered. There is nothing more that I can do.
It is an absolute disgrace.