Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Price of Peat.
- Price and competitiveness of peat 8 speeches
Asked whether Bord na Móna’s milled and sod peat prices were under review, the Minister cited a three-year ESB contract and said he supported maintaining peat use. He was satisfied with the ESB’s current fuel mix but did not directly confirm peat’s price competitiveness.
Gerard C. Connolly, Dick Spring, Albert Reynolds, Thomas J. Fitzpatrick
- Bord na Móna bog investment 5 speeches
Treacy questioned Bord na Móna’s investment in acquiring bogs that it does not develop. The exchange produced no substantive answer, with the Ceann Comhairle noting it was a separate question.
Noel Treacy, Thomas J. Fitzpatrick, Dick Spring
asked the Minister for Energy if he is reviewing or considering reviewing the price of Bord na Móna's milled peat and sod peat; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Comment on this
The ESB and Bord na Móna have recently agreed to enter into a contract covering three years from 1 April 1986. This mutually agreed contract includes price and quantity details.
Comment on this
Would the Minister confirm to the House that the price of milled peat in relation to import costs for electricity production by the ESB is competitive with all other fuels? The Minister will agree that there has been a mistaken view around for quite some time that the cost of milled peat supplied to the ESB by Bord na Móna is excessive and, consequently, constitutes one of the factors involved in the high cost of electricity? Will the Minister confirm that milled peat is competitive as an input fuel in the production unit cost of electricity?
Comment on this
The Deputy is aware of my concern to ensure that milled peat levels consumed by the ESB would be maintained at a high level. I am satisfied that it is in our interest, on a commercial and social basis, that this should continue to be so. I believe that the arrangements I announced in this House some two years ago in relation to the continuity of the turf burning stations, was in the best interests of this country.
Comment on this
The Minister will be aware of the various accusations to which I referred in relation to the price of milled peat——
Comment on this
I am satisfied with the make-up of the ingredients used by the ESB at present, ranging from hydro to oil, to turf, to coal and gas. I believe that that package as at present mixed is in our best interests.
Comment on this
Would the Minister justify to the House the reasons for Bord na Móna's capital investment in acquiring bog which they are not then going ahead and developing?