asked the Minister for Energy if he will approach An Bord Gáis with a view to extending the natural gas pipeline to serve the various industrial towns in County Kildare; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

14.

asked the Minister for Energy the plans he has to bring natural gas to the midland region; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

19.

asked the Minister for Energy if he is carrying out any evaluation of Galway city with a view to bringing natural gas there in the future.

I propose to take Questions Nos. 3, 14 and 19 together.

It is the responsibility of Bord Gáis Éireann to evaluate proposals for the supply of natural gas to particular consumers or areas.

The extension to areas such as those mentioned by the Deputies which do not have an existing supply of town gas will be considered in due course, but it would not be realistic to assume a likelihood of supply for some considerable time. I must emphasise that commercially viable markets as well as proximity to the main trunk pipelines are major factors in determining whether or not it would be economic to supply natural gas to a particular area.

In view of the obvious need for the provision of industrial jobs in County Kildare, and keeping in mind the vastly expanding population and the proximity of the pipeline to a number of towns in the county, particularly Athy and Naas, would the Minister consider using his influence with Board Gáis to bring forward the time at which it might be regarded as economical to extend a spur from the pipeline to most of the towns which will have industrial requirements during the next four or five years, rather than wait until it becomes an absolute requirement of immediate priority?

I am aware of the Deputy's concern and he has been in contact on previous occasions in regard to a supply for the Kildare area. I certainly will give any assistance possible to have the evaluations take place and to have discussions on the proposals that come forward.

Can the Minister tell us what kind of time scale is involved in this respect, particularly in Dundalk and Drogheda? Can he tell us if EC funds will be available to get the pipeline to Drogheda and Dundalk and will the Department be able to avail of these funds to ease economic pressures in those areas and elsewhere?

At the risk of answering a separate question — the Ceann Comhairle does not seem to be protecting me — an evaluation is taking place in regard to the north eastern pipeline. Everything is being done to expedite that evaluation and we will see if we can expedite the matter.

Can the Minister tell me the cost of providing a supply of gas to the midlands?

They are over-supplied down there, apparently. It would be premature to have any costings done until proposals are put forward for supply of natural gas to the midlands.

Is it not the responsibility of the Department of Energy to provide for economical fuel in regard to industry, which is going through a very difficult time?

It is the responsibility of Bord Gáis Éireann to deal with proposals as they come forward. The proper procedure for the people in the midlands is to put forward proposals. Costings can then be made.

I do not accept that reply. It is not the responsibility of Bord Gáis. They are responsible to the Minister in regard to this. I am suggesting that the Minister should ask them simply to have this matter evaluated. It is a disgrace that arrangements have not been made to expand the supply of natural gas to the midlands. Is the Minister arranging to do that?

We have had a number of representations for supplies of natural gas for the midland region and it is the responsibility of An Bord Gáis to evaluate such representations. When an evaluation has taken place I will be informed of the conclusion.

As a general policy matter arising from these questions which are being taken together, would the Minister accept that the probability is that there is much more gas still to be discovered in the Celtic Sea? I understand that recent exploration efforts have been successful. Therefore, as a general principle would the Minister not consider the desirability to plan for the maximum possible use of the new supplies of gas in addition to Kinsale? I am talking about a countrywide utilisation of natural gas and the enormous economic benefits that would accrue from the use of this natural resource. Deputy Kirk referred to its use in Drogheda and Dundalk and suggested that on the way to Drogheda the gas could be made available to all the horticultural producers of north Dublin and up along the coast. Would the Minister not accept as a principle that arrangements should be made in advance, now, so that we will be in a position to absorb this gas when it becomes available?

I am sure the Deputy is aware from his experience in dealing with my Department that advance planning is always taking place, particularly in regard to the supply of gas to Waterford and Limerick. The time will be very short. It is early to make an assessment in regard to the likelihood of other gas finds or what the potential of these finds in the Celtic Sea will be. It is reasonable to think that in the long term there will be more natural gas, but one cannot go further than that. There is continuous planning, and detailed examination has been done in relation to costings and economic viability of extending natural gas supplies throughout the country.

I was on my way to the House when I realised the Minister was taking Questions Nos. 3, 14 and 19 together and did not hear his response to Question No. 19.

The Deputy can ask supplementaries.

I will give the Deputy a briefing after Question Time.

Is there a time scale in relation to Question No. 19?

No. We have received a number of general representations from Galway.

I understand that natural gas will be made available in Clondalkin, which is only a short distance from County Kildare. Can the Minister use his influence with the board to get them to carry out an evaluation in regard to the provision of a spur to County Kildare?

I have said that Bord Gáis Éireann will discuss proposals from interested parties in Kildare in the very near future. They will go into all factors then.

I appreciate the general nature of the Minister's reply, but does not the fact that these questions have been tabled from all over the country indicate the need to proceed immediately with at least the planning for a nationwide gas grid? Does he accept that the provision of this natural resource on a nationwide basis very quickly, perhaps more expeditiously than normally would be prudent, would be totally justified in our present economic circumstances? Does the Minister appreciate that, in many of those centres of commerce and industry, the greatest single boost that could be given now would be the provision of natural gas?

In view of all that, would the Minister be prepared to initiate a policy — Bord Gáis are there to implement policies laid down by the Minister — in regard to the immediate urgent use of our natural gas resources for economic development and recovery, particularly in view of the fact that present supplies are most likely to be supplemented by additional resources in the near future? I am endeavouring to secure from the Minister some acknowledgement of the urgency to make plans for an extension of natural gas supplies.

These are three specific questions and Deputy Haughey is asking a general question dealing with the entire gas policy.

I am getting weary arguing with you. The point is that these questions are from all over the country.

If the Deputy studies Standing Orders he would understand what the Minister is at.

The questions that the Minister for Energy has decided to take together refer to different parts of the country. Therefore, once he takes the three questions together, he necessarily gives a national dimension to this matter. It is on that basis that I am asking supplementaries.

We took 15 questions yesterday out of 30, under the new system, and we are back to where we started.

It is better to do 15 well than to do 50 badly.

One could apply that to doing one in the hour.

So be it.

I think I have endeavoured to reply to the Deputy's question to the best of my ability. Forward planning is constantly taking place. On the basis of information now available to us the national grid is being extended and we shall continue to do so. Evaluation has to take place of any proposal coming either to An Bord Gáis or my Department in relation to the commerciality of the project. But it should be stated quite clearly that there will be projects in relation to the extension of the grid which will not make commercial sense and, on that basis, there will be areas which will not have natural gas. We might as well be quite clear about that.

Would the Minister ask An Bord Gáis to implement discussions regarding proposals for Galway?

I said already that some proposals had been received and I have no doubt that discussions will be taking place with An Bord Gáis.