asked the Minister for Energy the value of the research programme conducted by agencies under his own Department in each year since 1980; the estimate for 1988; and if he will make a statement of the matter.

I would refer the Deputy to the annual publication by the National Board for Science and Technology entitled "Energy Research and Development Projects" which contains full particulars of expenditure on research programmes by State agencies in each year since 1980.

The particulars for 1987 and future years will be published by EOLAS.

Could the Minister give an indication of the trend of these figures and in particular his estimate for 1988? If the trend is down, does the Minister agree that there is a need to direct greater attention to alternative sources of energy and conservation and into the research needed?

I am very conscious of the whole area of conservation and research. The Government have recently reorganised that whole scientific area under EOLAS. The publication of the exact figures which was previously done by the National Board for Science and Technology are being prepared for 1987 by EOLAS. The particulars for my Department, including forestry, the ESB, Bord na Móna and An Bord Gáis are given in the publication itself.

Surely the Minister knows the figures. Is he saying he will not tell the House until——

I am saying they are available in the annual publication.

I thought the Minister said that they were not available, that they were being prepared.

They will be published by EOLAS. The figures for 1987 and future years will be published by EOLAS.

Will the Minister give in the House today the figures for 1987 and 1988?

The actual figures are available in the energy research and development projects which are all inter-linked so it is not a question of giving a definite figure for one.

The Minister did not answer.

I thought I gave the Deputy some latitude in the last question. If the Deputy wishes he can put a final supplementary.

The Minister did not answer the question I asked. I asked for figures and the Minister referred me to sources that are not yet available. That is not a great help.

The figures are available since 1980. It is not a question of hiding anything. The question refers to each year since 1980.

Including the Estimate for 1988?

I have said where the information is available to the Deputy.

Question No. 22.

Is the Minister saying that the Estimate for 1988 is available?

I said that the Book of Estimates if available. The question refers to the research programmes conducted by the agencies under my Department in each year since 1980 and I have told the Deputy where those figures are available since 1980.

They are not available for 1988.