asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if he will state when it is intended to commence work on the erection of a turf-burning electricity generating station at Bangor Erris, County Mayo, in view of the fact that this is an extensive, undeveloped area with thousands of acres of good bog land and from which a large number of unemployed emigrate every year for want of local employment, and also of the fact that an electricity supply in this area would be the foundation for local industrial development.

I would refer the Deputy to the reply to a similar question given in Dáil Éireann on the 31st October, 1951. The development of the bog between Bangor Erris and Crossmolina for the production of milled peat has commenced but I cannot indicate at this stage when work is likely to commence on the erection of the generating station.

Would the Minister confirm if this is the scheme for which the notice was served on 20th April last to acquire the bog?

I presume so.