asked the Minister for Energy the degree of dependency on imported fuel for energy in this country vis-á-vis other EC countries.

The information the Deputy requires is available from the Energy Statistics yearbook published by the Statistical Office of the European Communities. I am, however, circulating in the Official Report a tabular statement showing net imports for each member state as a percentage of gross inland consumption in the years 1975 and 1983 which is the latest year for which the yearbook has been published.

In terms of ranking, in 1983 Ireland is placed sixth in relation to dependence on energy imports, with the UK, the Netherlands, Germany and France having a lower dependence. Ireland's dependence on imported energy decreased from 85.9 per cent of gross inland consumption in 1975 to 62.5 per cent in 1983. My Department have estimated that in 1984, the rate was 58.6 per cent and for the nine months ended 30 September 1985 the rate was 58 per cent.

Following is the statement.

Nett Imports as Percentage of Gross Inland Consumption

EEC-10

(million tonnes of oil equivalent)