asked the Minister for Energy if he will make a statement regarding the future of the turf burning station at Gweedore, County Donegal.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Gweedore (Donegal) Turf Burning Station.
5.
The ESB's strategic plan, which affects, among others, the turf burning station at Gweedore, has been the subject of debate and question in the Dáil. I have indicated on a number of occasions that until examination of the plan is complete, I do not propose to comment on any particular element of it, and I would refer in that connection to the reply which I gave to Question No. 18 on 3 May 1984. I have nothing to add to that reply except to say that I hope to bring the matter to a conclusion soon.
When does the Minister expect the examination of the plan to be completed?
I hope that my Department's consideration of the strategic plan would be completed, certainly, within a matter of weeks.
When the examination of the plan is completed, would the Minister take into consideration that the turf burning station in Gweedore employs 45 people and that there are 320 contractors supplying 28,000 tonnes of turf to the station which generates 5 MW of electricity, together with 4 MW on the Clady. This is vitally important to west Donegal and would he take all these factors into consideration?
Yes, I can assure the Deputy, as I replied to Deputy Durkan with regard to another station, that all the implications — social, economic, strategic and regional — will be taken into consideration.
When the Minister and the Government are considering this strategic plan, would they take account that Gweedore is unique in another aspect — in that it is a station situated in a Fíor-Ghaeltacht area and that all the workers and suppliers are Irish speakers? Would these factors be taken into account among the social implications of a decision to close the station?
My earlier response to Deputy Gallagher in relation to the social implications has shown that these matters will be taken into consideration.