asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce whether he is aware of the difficulty in procuring supplies of briquettes, and if so, if he will ask Bord na Móna to take steps to ensure that adequate supplies are available.

I am aware that at present the demand for turf briquettes exceeds supply. Measures to secure an increase in the output of briquettes are being taken. I would remind the Deputy of the announcement which I made last June that the Government had approved the establishment of two further briquetting factories with a view to increasing output by a further 200,000 tons per annum.