Vol. 508 No. 3
156 Mr. R. Bruton asked the Minister for Public Enterprise if she will give details of the application by a consortium, including ESB, for a wind farm on the Kish Bank; the form of assessment being undertaken by her Department of this proposal; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19072/99]
In principle I welcome the development of our offshore wind energy resource. To this end, my Department together with the Department of Economic Development, Belfast has commissioned a joint study in relation to the prospects for the development of offshore wind farms.
In addition, it is the policy of my colleague, the Minister for the Marine and Natural Resources to encourage the maximum beneficial use of national offshore resources.
My Department does not have any details of the application for a wind farm on the Kish Bank. Authority to authorise the construction or reconstruction of electricity generating stations, including offshore wind farms, is vested in the commission for electricity regulation.
