Vol. 500 No. 5
141 Mr. Gormley asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government his views on the contribution offshore wind farms could make to COf8>2 reduction and in meeting our commitments under the Kyoto agreement; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4625/99]
Offshore windfarms have the potential to provide an alternative source of electricity which can contribute towards reducing CO2 emissions and meeting Ireland's Kyoto commitment. The promotion of such technologies is primarily a matter for my colleague, Deputy Joe Jacob, Minister of State at the Department of Public Enterprise. I understand that a study of the potential off-shore wind energy resource of Ireland and Northern Ireland has been commissioned jointly, by the Department of Public Enterprise and the Department of Economic Development of Belfast.
The study involves an assessment of the total and exploitable off-shore wind resource and an examination of factors affecting its development. When the study is completed in the next few months the Minister of State at the Department of Public Enterprise will be better positioned to calculate the practical volume available. Thereafter the contribution the technology can make to CO2 abatement measures and commitments under the Kyoto agreement can be assessed.
