Vol. 451 No. 3
41 Miss Harney asked the Minister for Transport, Energy and Communications the work to date under the national programme to investigate the potential use of geothermal energy in Ireland; the results achieved; and if he will give an assessment of future potential. [6499/95]
While research and demonstration has taken place in the area of geothermal with EU support, the potential for commercial development appears to be less certain than in relation to technologies such as wind and biomass. Ireland's geology together with the current price of energy makes it unlikely that geothermal energy will be developed in Ireland to any significant extent in the foreseeable future. The existence of warm springs in Ireland is relatively rare and where these occur the main potential lies in small-scale local use involving heat pumps.
