asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce whether the new turf production campaign includes the establishment of a turf generating electric plant with a land reclamation project and the construction of a complete housing settlement in the Erris area.

The possibility of a turf fired electricity generating station in the Crossmolina-Erris bog district will be considered if the survey made recently discloses that the bogs are suitable for the economic production of machine-won turf. I am informed, however, that the distance from the load and the consequent voltage drop would present a problem at this stage. If it is finally decided by Bord na Móna to proceed with the development of these bogs the land will be left in a fit condition for reclamation and the construction of houses would be undertaken as part of the project.