Alex White (Dublin South, Labour) | Oireachtas source

I will not provide specific details on schemes today, as I will be making a number of announcements in the coming weeks on how we view energy efficiency programmes developing in the coming period. It will be of interest to the Deputy to know that, before the end of the year, I will publish an energy affordability policy, in which respect we have consulted extensively this year. It will draw together all of the strands of the issues that the Deputy raised. It will be a good policy document and point the way towards addressing these issues.

The anticipated number of projects grant aided in 2015 will be of the order of 17,683. That is reasonable progress. I am not trying to argue with the Deputy on this matter, though, as he is right to seek to prioritise it.

On the question of the Environmental Protection Agency, EPA, study, all I can say is that I note the Deputy's concerns. Surely it is better to have specific information on what is happening and what the critical issues that we will have to address will be when we come to consider this question. I do not view information gathering as constituting a risk of litigation against the State. We need to examine these key research questions and understand the scope of the issue before any decision is made. I will grant no consent prior to us knowing and understanding the research's output.

Something in the order of €130 million in the past five years has been Voted in respect of inland fisheries, including almost €25 million for 2015. We have agreed with the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform to increase staff numbers, which will be of help, as it is needed. This matter was raised with me by others as well. There must be proper resourcing. Inland Fisheries Ireland, IFI, has a recruitment process under way and this will address some of the issues, but we will keep an eye on the situation.