Paudie Coffey (Waterford, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

The climate change challenge of reducing carbon emissions to the target figure is significant and I welcome the Minister's practical approach of involving stakeholders. Involving them is important.

I wish to ask about one technology. It is important that we note the advancements being made in the economy. For example, the SSE utility company is investing €330 million at the power generation plant at Great Island in the south east, an area the Minister shares with me. SSE is converting the plant from oil to clean gas and will almost double its capacity to 460 MW by 2016. This work will have a significant impact on the decarbonisation of electricity generation. We should acknowledge this investment by a private stakeholder.

The Minister is aware of the Belview industrial zone in the south east. We need to consider the energy opportunities it offers. Glanbia will develop a new plant at Belview and there is significant potential for further development. Are there incentives to extend gas lines into such industrial zones? As the latter need to operate at efficient levels, we must plan for the future. Is it possible to incentivise the extension of gas lines?