asked the Minister for Energy if he will assess the implications for energy generation of tidal barrage schemes.

In addition to keeping abreast of developments in the area of tidal barrage schemes abroad, a considerable amount of research has been carried out in Ireland on electricity generation from tidal waters.

Two sites, Shannon Estuary and Carlingford Lough, have been identified as being capable, in principle, of such development. However, the consensus of expert opinion is that, as such small tidal ranges exist at these sites, their development for electricity generation would not currently be economically attractive.

As technological advances and changes in the economic climate may alter this situation, the feasibility of utilising tidal barrages will be kept under review.

What countries have been examined where the tidal barrage schemes are in operation? Would the Minister's Department consider a pilot scheme on an experimental basis towards energy generation from this source which could prove useful to this country in future?

Apart from a number of small-scale plants in the USSR and China, those mainly in operation are at the Bay of Fundy in Canada, La Rance near St. Malo in France and the Severn Estuary. These sites have all been considered for development but the only plant actually constructed in the western world is at La Rance which has a mean tidal range of eight meters and the Bay of Fundy which has a mean range of seven meters.

What is the appropriate figure at Shannon and other sites considered here?

At the Shannon Estuary the mean figure is 3.6 meters.