Environment Minister admits local power station may be needed to assist in energy crisis

The Environment Minister has not ruled out the possibility of two former power stations in the Shannonside region being used to combat Ireland's looming energy crisis

Eamon Ryan has told the Irish Independent's farming section that the government may consider using the Lough Ree Power station in Lanesboro, or the Shannonbridge plant in Offaly, as part of emergency measures in the next four to five years.

However, a report produced by the Department of the Environment recently claimed that there was no future prospect of the power stations being used to generate electricity.

Denis Naughten welcomes the Minister's comments but says the logjam that is stalling progress on using biomass to generate electricity needs to be resolved