asked the Minister for Transport and Power if there are any plans on hand to provide oil storage space as required by EEC directives; and, if so, the location of the storage areas.

At present the storage capacity maintained by oil companies and large oil consumers at various centres throughout the country amounts to approximately one million metric tonnes and further capacity planned or under construction, mainly at Dublin and Tarbert, will increase this by approximately 200,000 tonnes. In addition, the transhipment terminal at Bantry Bay contains storage capacity of one million tonnes, of which 135,000 tonnes represents a reserve maintained by Gulf Oil under an agreement between that company and my Department.

As I indicated in reply to a question by Deputy Cronin on 27th May, 1976, I made regulations recently requiring the oil companies to increase their oil stocks and I am considering what further steps should be taken to bring the level up to 90 days as required by the EEC Directives. Discussions in the matter are at present taking place with the oil companies concerned.