asked the Minister for Energy if his Department are aware of the low stocks of briquettes, milled peat and turf here; and if new proposals will be considered to increase production.

Production of all forms of peat is very dependent on suitable weather during a short season and 1985 was an exceptionally wet year in that context.

Bord na Móna have traditionally had a policy of high stocks, particularly of milled peat for briquette manufacturing and electricity generation. This policy has been vindicated in recent months as they have been able to produce record quantities of briquettes while maintaining reasonable supplies of milled peat to power stations. As a result of the necessary draw down of stocks, their stocks are now relatively low.

The level of production which can be achieved this year is determined, apart from weather considerations, by the number of harvesting machines available. Given reasonable weather, it should be possible to rebuild stocks.

Will Bord na Móna be employing extra people to increase production this year?

I do not have a specific answer to that question but I might be able to help the Deputy. Obviously, a major factor in relation to the production levels and the production season for Bord na Móna is the availability of harvesting machines from within their resources. That will have a major bearing on the amounts of milled peat available for briquettes and for the peat burning stations. I will come back to the Deputy on the question of extra men being taken on but I am inclined to believe that it is not a question of manpower but the availability of machinery and having that machinery producing at optimum capacity.

Will the Department further support the private development of bogs? Many private developers lost money last year because of the atrocious weather.

Yes, it is our intention to continue with the support.

Is the Minister aware that health boards had great difficulty in the last six months in operating the fuel voucher scheme because recipients could not get briquettes? Did the Minister receive any representations from the health boards about this serious matter?

I am aware of the difficulty in obtaining briquettes in recent months but we can be reasonably certain that that will be overcome in the coming months. Bord na Móna seem to be coping well and will be in a position to overcome the difficulties in a matter of months.