asked the Minister for Energy if he will make a statement on the present position of the Whiddy oil terminal; the quantity of oil held there; the number employed there; and the plans, if any, he has for its future development.
Written Answers. - Whiddy Oil Terminal.
22.
The Whiddy Island oil terminal was transferred to the ownership of the INPC, as the State's agent, on 18 June 1986. The INPC's role as owner is to maintain the facility at minimum cost and to explore any possibilities of future economic utilisation of the terminal. The terminal presently holds 21,000 tonnes of crude and 1,800 tonnes of gas diesel oil and is maintained by a workforce of eight men. At present there are no proposals before me for the development of the facility, but I believe we can be reasonably confident that worthwhile ideas will emerge for consideration as a result of the work being done by the INPC.