asked the Minister for Energy when construction will commence on a briquette factory in Ballyforan, County Galway; and the size and cost of same.
Written Answers. - Proposed Construction of Briquette Factory.
49.
There are no plans at present for commencing construction of a briquette factory in Ballyforan, County Galway.
Bord na Móna decided in May 1984 to defer this project because of the uncertainty whether the market could absorb its output at an economic price and the serious burden which further borrowing would place on all of the board's operations.
The board reviewed this decision in 1985 and concluded that the project should continue to be deferred while being kept under ongoing review. The position has not changed for the better since then so the decision still stands.
The factory as planned in 1982 would have had a capacity to produce 150,000 tonnes of briquettes a year and the cost at 1983 prices was £25 million. In the event of the project being proceeded with at a future date, the required production capacity and cost would have to be reassessed at that time.