Have the Minister's Department any plans to make funds available for the development of bogs, particularly in the western area?

I have given the overall figures in regard to Bord na Móna. I am not quite sure what the Deputy has in mind. The information I have given includes some areas in the west. Perhaps the Deputy has something in mind which he could clarify.

The Irish Sugar Company cut turf in 70 bogs in the western region at the moment and they use 15 machines. They cut a total of 700,000 yards of turf per year. Approximately the same amount of turf is cut by people with private machines. The vast majority of those bogs now need drainage and roads. It is necessary to make funds available for drainage and road making in those bogs.

And the drainage of the Shannon.

Do not mind the Shannon. Could we talk about the bogs first?

The Deputy might put down a separate question.

I will not put down a separate question. This question is very relevant.

A Bill is coming before the House in relation to turf development and the Deputy will have an opportunity of discussing all those matters. The Deputy is anticipating it.

I am not anticipating anything. I deserve an answer from the Minister. I am talking particularly about the western region. The only schemes available at the moment to either drain bogs or to make roads into bogs are grants available to the local authorities. The amount of money spent annually in that area is very small. I want the Minister to provide grants for the development of bogs.

Apart from a scheme administered by my Department which is confined to the development and maintenance of roads for access to bogs, which are supplying turf to certain ESB generating stations, my Department do not have any function in this matter. The Deputy has referred to the fact that local authorities receive money from the Department of the Environment under broad headings which enable them to provide money for the purpose he suggests. Considerable extra money was provided under this heading last year but few, if any, local authorities provided any money for the purpose suggested by the Deputy. The local authorities, having received extra money, could have chosen if they wished, to devote it to the purpose now recommended by the Deputy. They chose instead to devote it to other purposes. That suggests that the local authorities do not regard this matter as one of top priority.

Surely the Minister must be aware that the amount of money being allocated to local authorities——

We cannot debate this matter any further. We are getting very involved now.

Surely the Minister must be aware that the amount of money allocated to local authorities in relation to inflation is getting less and less? The amount of money allocated for local improvement schemes in County Galway in 1978 was £162,000. In 1977 it was £153,000. There is no great increase in that.

The Deputy may not quote at Question Time. I have pointed out already that there is a Bill dealing entirely with Bord na Móna actually ordered and the Deputy will have an opportunity of discussing all those matters.

I certainly will. The Minister either does not know what I am talking about or he does not answer the question I am asking.

I know that in respect of the scheme to which the Deputy is referring, £1 million extra was provided last year. I know that local authorities did not choose to use it for the purpose of bog roads.

The Minister has got it totally wrong.

The Deputy has got it totally wrong because inevitably people who want to do what the Deputy wants to do also want the Government to provide additional money for that while they spend it on other things which they regard as of a greater priority. They are entitled to that view but if one chooses priorities one has got to live with them.

Is the Minister aware that the average cost of heating a home in 1973 was £80 and today it is £650? In view of that would he not agree with me that it is necessary to make grants available for bog development?

Surely the Deputy does not expect the Minister for Energy to be the only one who decides on energy being a priority? Other people have a responsibility in this as well.