asked the Minister for Energy if any studies are being undertaken on wave and solar energy use by his Department or their agencies.

: Ireland is a signatory, through the ESB, to the Implementing Agreement on Wave Energy of the International Energy Agency. Within this agreement practical research is being carried out in Japan and the results made available to Ireland. In this way Ireland can participate in, and reap the benefits of, costly research. While the Japanese project has produced a working prototype of 1 MW, it is generally felt that truly commercial machines will not be available for a decade or so.

In anticipation of the possibility of using wave machines in Ireland a measuring buoy will be located at the Porcupine Bank early next summer. As well as data on wave characteristics, the buoy will measure meteorological data and oceanographic data, which will be of value in relation to offshore exploration, weather forecasting and fishing operations.

A wave tank is available in UCC for studies on wave machines. Some fundamental research is in progress in UCC and also in UCG and NIHE (Limerick) on the characteristics of waves and machines.

The ESB have installed eight solar energy domestic water heaters in private houses in the Dublin area and these are being closely monitored. In addition the ESB will shortly be installing solar collectors for a swimming pool and this installation will also be monitored. The ESB have agreed to fund part of the cost of a photo-voltaic assembly to be built in UCC. This will provide a maximum of 50 kw of electricity.

The Institute for Industrial Research and Standards are participating in the EEC Solar Energy Research Programme on two projects. The first project involves the construction and operation of a solar pilot test facility, which includes two full-scale complete solar house-heating systems and one domestic hot water system.

The second project involves the testing of solar collectors of various manufacture using existing standardised test methods. The test methods will be extended and modified in particular to suit use in temperate climates such as ours.

The UCD school of engineers are engaged in research and development on solar-powered heat pumps intended to provide heating and cooling facilities, initially for domestic dwellings.

: I thank the Minister for his lengthy reply and for all the information given. As he has mentioned the wave machine in UCC, can the Minister say whether there are or have been tests on an Irish invention patented by an Irish citizen? Is the Minister aware of that? How has it gone and has it any worth-while promise?

: I cannot tell the Deputy any more on this topic. He will appreciate that his question relates to my Department and their agencies. I assumed he wanted a general picture of what was going on so I included bodies such as UCC and so on which are not agencies of my Department. I cannot give him any more information than I have.

: Thank you very much.

3.