Nuclear Energy Board
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The Nuclear Energy Board (NEB) which was officially titled as An Bord Fuinnimh Núicléigh, an Irish title, was established in 1971 by the Nuclear Energy (An Bord Fuinnimh Núicléigh) Act, 1971 (http://www.irishstatutebook.ie/1971_12.html). The board was responsible in the 1970s for pursuing the policy of developing a nuclear power station, which was to be located at Carnsore Point, County Wexford. This policy ultimately failed and the board gradually faded from public attention, eventually concentrating on nuclear-related environmental reports, in any case it was never a large organisation with the Electricity Supply Board doing most operational work.
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Nuclear power station
Planning
In 1968 because of Ireland's economic development the Electricity Supply Board was evaluating ways of diversifying its electricity generation. The Turlough Hill project had just commenced and this was one of the most prestigious engineering projects since the foundation of the state and the Ardnacrusha power station. In the 1970s this need for new energy sources became more urgent, especially after the 1973 energy crisis, in 1975 Bord Gáis was established in order to develop Kinsale gas field, this find four years earlier initially slowed the nuclear energy project as it was hoped it may be an alternative. In 1974 planning permission was sought for four reactors with County Wexford County Council, with one to be built immediately, most likely of pressurized water reactor design.
Uncertainty
The economic slowdown of 1974 and 1975 again saw the project been temporarily put on hold, but when Desmond O'Malley became the new Minister for Industry, Commerce and Energy in 1977 the project once again became government policy, this time the plans became more serious and controversial, the government wanted to build a 650 MW plant at Carnsore at a cost of £ 350 million (Punt) at the then prices. In 1979 the project was again postponed, with the change in government, as George Colley, Minister for Energy became the new minister in charge of the project. The incident at Three Mile Island, in the USA was the background to this decision, also Friends of the Earth and other groups lobbied against the plans. Finally in 1981 the Electricity Supply Board and the then government announced it was no longer national policy.
Cancellation
Ultimately the board was remembered for plans put on and off hold, and immense controversy. Also their was criticism that the government overestimated the need of energy in Ireland in the future, at one point it was estimated that industry would consume 57% of energy by 1990, internationally this is rather large as 40% is a typical value. However Ireland in the 1970s was in a dangerous position whereby 75% of energy needs were meet by oil, and EEC policy was to reduce this below 50% by 1985, after two energy crisis.
New role
After 1981 the Nuclear Energy Board was not immediately wound up instead rather than becoming nuclear advocate the board became redefined in a new role as an environmentalist. The board sponsored a number of reports, in particular on the Sellafield plant which has long been a source of dispute between the Republic of Ireland and the United Kingdom. Finally in 1991 the successor to the board was created, the Radiological Protection Institute of Ireland.