Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Wednesday, 21 Feb 2001

Vol. 531 No. 1

Written Answers. - Electricity Generation.

Michael Ring

Ceist:

69 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Public Enterprise the position with regard to the peat power station at Bellacorrick, County Mayo; the plans the Government has to put a new power station at this location; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5070/01]

Minister for Public Enterprise (Mrs. O'Rourke)

The ESB has been operating a 40 MW peat fired power station at Bellacorrick since 1962. This plant was scheduled for closure in 2004. The tripartite agreement which was signed in February 2000 between my Department, ESB management and the ESB group of unions, provides for the phased closure of all existing peat fired power stations, including Bellacorrick, to be dovetailed with the coming on stream of two new ESB peat fired power stations at Lanesboro and Shannonbridge. The ESB is steadily on course with design, planning and preparations for the construction of the two new plants by 2004 and closure of Bellacorrick will proceed, as scheduled within this framework.

I have no function in relation to a new power station at Bellacorrick. The building of new power plants, their location, size, fuel to be used etc. are now commercial decisions for market players including ESB. In accordance with sections 14 and 16 of the Electricity Regulation Act, 1999, responsibility for the licensing of generating stations and the granting of authorisations to construct generating stations rests with the Commission for Electricity Regulation.