Michael Colreavy (Sligo-North Leitrim, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I wish to make a number of points. The oil market is very volatile currently, but the renewable energy market is also very volatile. It can be very difficult to predict what will happen next year, let alone in ten or 20 years' time. Is the Minister satisfied his Department and the CER have enough energy economists looking into the crystal ball and predicting what will happen down the line? I know how difficult that is.

Page 29 of the documentation refers to the increased levels of CO2 avoided due to the use of renewable energy. However, the financial value of that avoidance reduced from €47 million in 2011 to €16 million in 2013. I do not understand how that can be the case. It does not make sense.

The number of low-income homes implementing energy-efficient measures has reduced from 12,000 in 2014 to 7,475 in 2015. This is disappointing. Is there any double counting in those figures? Was the 12,000 figure for 2014 the actual output or the then planned output? What is the actual output?

My final question concerns an issue I have raised previously, micro energy generating projects and the cost of linking to the grid. I believe the cost of linking is an impediment to these projects. I spoke last night to a chap who was talking about setting up what would be a nice industry in Sligo which he wants to be totally self-sufficient in terms of renewable energy generation and use. I am aware from previous discussions with a person in Monaghan that he not only had a self-sufficient solution to renewable energy but also to waste management but could not proceed with his project because of the cost of linking to the grid. Are there any serious discussions taking place, as distinct from aspirations, in terms of encouraging and facilitating micro energy generation projects?