asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if he will state if it is the intention of the Electricity Supply Board to establish a turf-burning generating station in the Erris area, North Mayo; and, if not, the reason.

asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce whether it is intended to erect a turf-burning station at Bangor-Erris, County Mayo; and, if so, when it is intended to proceed with the construction of this station.

With the permission of the Ceann Comhairle, I propose to take Questions Nos. 4 and 5 together.

The establishment of a generating station in the Erris area is not in the present programme of the Electricity Supply Board. I understand that the board considers that there are serious difficulties of a technical and economic nature involved in the proposal. The whole question of policy in this regard is, however, at present under consideration.