Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)
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Question 235: To ask the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources when the Government intends that coal firing at Moneypoint should cease; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36721/05]

Noel Dempsey (Meath, Fianna Fail)
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On 29 July 2004, my predecessor, Deputy Dermot Ahern, gave shareholder approval to ESB for a €368 million environmental retrofit project at the 900MW coal fired Moneypoint power station in County Clare. It is intended that the project would be completed by January 2008 in line with EU directive requirements. In effect, the approval of the project secures the future of the coal-firing plant well into the next decade. Concern about security of supply as represented by fuel diversity is the main reason for retaining coal in the generation unit.

The Government has no intentions regarding cessation of coal firing at Moneypoint. Commercial decisions regarding the future of the plant are a matter in the first instance for ESB.