Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 231: To ask the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources the number of electricity generating stations scheduled for closure here; his intentions in regard to future use of these stations; the number and location of same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33680/06]

Noel Dempsey (Meath, Fianna Fail)
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Decisions regarding the future of electricity generating stations is a matter for the Board and Management of ESB and not one in which I have a function.

I have however, from an overall policy perspective, particularly in the context of the Green Paper, expressed my interest in exploring the possibility of the creation of a State-owned landbank of suitable generation sites to incentivise the development of new independent generation capacity. While consideration is in initial stages, I would expect that lands that become available because of closure would have an important role to play in any such development, subject to any discussions with the company.