Mr. Mike Quinn:

I will respond to Deputy Corcoran Kennedy's question about biomass. The field has changed for Bord na Móna in the past two to three weeks because we have received confirmation from the chief executive officer of the ESB that we will keep the three power stations open post-2019. That allows us to provide 15-year contracts to farmers out to 2030 if they wish to convert to willow. We have had several meetings with the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Deputy Coveney, and his team to put together a package for the next budget round, which is a grant package for the establishment of willow along the lines of the forestry grants in the past. We must await the outcome of the budget, but we have made a very strong case and submission on that ground, which will make it attractive to the farmers to sign up for long-term deals. The willow industry has the potential to become a significant employer in the midlands. I will deal with that aspect in more detail tomorrow with Offaly County Council.