asked the Minister for Transport and Power if there are any plans for an electricity generating station for the Leinster coalfield.

I am informed by the ESB that they have no plans for an electricity generating station for the Leinster coalfield.

Does the Minister intend to ask the ESB to plan a generating station for the Leinster coalfield?

We are once again going into the question of the possibility of utilising the coal in the Leinster coalfield for electricity generating purposes. The prospects do not appear very satisfactory, but in any event it takes five years to construct a power station from the time the decision is made to build it and so it could not affect the problem of doing the best we can to provide an outlet for the anthracite deposits in the Leinster coalfield.

It is not the immediate prospects that concern us; even the prospect of utilisation in five years' time would be welcome. One must look ahead. I know we cannot build a power station overnight, but even if it is not to happen for five years, the Minister should now be asking the ESB to plan for this power station.

One more examination will be made of the problem.