asked the Minister for Energy if he will instruct An Bord Gáis to make as a priority the availability of natural gas to the food manufacturing industry.

As part of the phased development of the natural gas market, it is intended to make natural gas available to industries located in proximity to the gas transmission network. In line with this policy, applications from firms involved in the food manufacturing industry will be considered by Bord Gáis Éireann. I would emphasise, however, that the prospects and timing of a supply will be subject to the technical and financial feasibility of individual projects.

Would the Minister tell us when it is proposed to make gas available to firms in proximity to the pipelines? We have had a pipeline from the shore into Cork for quite a number of years now and we have had a pipeline from Cork to Dublin for, I think, the past 18 months to two years. With the exception of a few industries in, I think, Little Island in Cork, virtually no other industries have got connections to natural gas although many of them are very close to the pipeline. Therefore, when the Minister says it is the intention to make it available, can he tell us when it will be made available because Bord Gáis Éireann have done little or nothing so far as making it available to individual firms is concerned?

The primary thrust of the natural gas utilisation policy has been and is to develop as far as possible premium domestic markets and commercial markets. Under the pricing and allocation policy which has recently been prepared by Bord Gáis Éireann bulk gas will be sold to industries which are located in proximity to the pipeline. It is an on-going matter. There is nothing to stop the board and the particular industries interested in the supply of gas setting up their contracts and getting on with it.