asked the Minister for Energy when the study of the potential of wind power as a source of energy will be available.

The purpose of this study is to appraise the wind power potential of Ireland. It involves the collection of wind data and carrying out an in-depth analysis of the information obtained.

As planned, the data for this study is being provided by both the Meterological Service and from my Department's wind demonstration programme. While considerable work has been done in having the study carried out, progress was delayed due to teething problems experienced in monitoring the wind demonstration projects.

It is considered that two further years' data is required in order to have sufficiently comprehensive results. Therefore, the wind evaluation study will not be available until shortly after that time.

Does work on the study in question involve the collection of information from some continental countries where work on development of wind-based energy is more advanced than it is here? Has any information been sought or made available from those areas?

The Deputy did not ask that in the question. We are in contact with other European countries and are aware of their experiences. The Deputy will be interested to know that in the early eighties the EC started collecting data for a Wind Energy Act for Europe but, because of financial cutbacks, they had to bring the project to a halt before it was completed. We would hope that the project would be recommenced. Indeed, it may even be completed by the end of next year.