asked the Minister for Energy the plans, if any, to promote the development of turf both for industrial and domestic usage.

6.

asked the Minister for Energy if he will introduce a special scheme of assistance for re-opening of bogs to facilitate increased production of turf.

7.

asked the Minister for Energy if he has satisfied himself with the use being made of bogland in this country in view of the high ratios of bog to land area and the plans, if any, for the further immediate development of bogs as part of an energy programme.

With the permission of the Ceann Comhairle, I propose to take Questions Nos. 5, 6 and 7 together.

I am informed by Bord na Móna that there are about 60,000 acres of bogland in course of development at present by the board. This is an increase of almost 50 per cent on the area already in production. The total of approximately 200,000 acres now acquired or in course of acquisition by the board includes all the large bog areas in the midlands and many other smaller bogs. The board's third development programme provides for the production of an additional 2.75 million tonnes of milled peat to be used for electricity generation and the manufacture of briquettes in two new briquette factories; an additional 32,000 tonnes of sod peat and 650,000 cubic metres of moss peat. This represents an increase of about 75 per cent on current production. Bord na Móna are continuously reviewing their development plans in the light of data available from their surveys with a view to including all bogland which can be developed for fuel production on an economically viable basis. Virtually all such bogland has already been identified. Most of the remaining bog area is comprised of shallow bog in the western part of the country where unfavourable conditions such as peat depth, terrain and climate militate against peat production on a commercial scale.

I understand that the Central Development Committee have initiated an investigation into the problems of turf production in the west and that the investigation is expected to be completed shortly.

I also understand that the National Board for Science and Technology have applied to the EEC for aid towards a project to develop peat harvesting machinery for use on smaller bogs where at present harvesting is unmechanised and costly.

Do I understand from the reply that the board have about 200,000 acres and have 50,000 acres in production?

That is not quite right, although I understand how the Deputy may have got that impression. It is 60,000 acres in course of development and 200,000 acres now acquired or in course of acquisition. The Deputy will understand that the major portion on which Bord na Móna are and have been working is not included in either of those figures because one is in course of development and the other in course of acquisition.

Has the Minister any information as to the number of acres of other bogland which according to the criteria he has mentioned would be commercially exploitable other than what is in production or in course of development or in the ownership of or being acquired by the board? Has the Minister any idea of the extent of what is left which could be commercially exploited?

That is a separate question.

The Deputy may take it that, apart from what has been identified by Bord na Móna, the remaining bogland is not capable of commercial development from the point of view of Bord na Móna. What is outstanding may well be commercially viable with the aid of new machinery, which I referred to in my reply and for which aid is being sought from the EEC—light machinery suitable for use on small and heretofore uneconomic bogland. If that can be developed, and I believe it can, then a number of bogs which at present would be regarded as non-commercial will become commercial.

I am puzzled by the word "identification". We spoke of the bogland that is in production, in course of development and in course of acquisition or already acquired. The Minister now talks about bogland that has been identified as possibly being capable of commercial production by the board but which has not been acquired by them or is not in course of acquisition. Can he give any idea as to the extent of that, what sort of acreage is involved——

The Deputy should put down a separate question.

Sorry, the very point of the question is whether the Minister is satisfied with the present use and whether there are any plans for further development. If we talk about further development with identifying——

The Deputy is asking about the quantity or area of bogland outside of what Bord na Móna are involved in. That is a separate question.

The reply spoke of bogland which, according to the Minister, the board have identified as being capable of——

That is his own affair.

But if the Minister has the figure——

No, I do not have it.