Denis Naughten (Roscommon-Galway, Independent) | Oireachtas source

Mr. Armstrong referred to the midlands scheme. It must include Roscommon and east Galway, where Bord na Móna sites adjoin the two powers stations. Have any shallow retrofits not gone ahead as a result of rent arrears? Local authorities previously used that policy to penalise people who were in arrears. Those people were in fuel poverty and could not access the retrofit. Can Mr. Armstrong assure us that families in fuel or other poverty will not be penalised in the context of the deep retrofit?

I point out to the officials from the Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment that representatives from the SEAI appeared before the committee last week. I specifically asked what the SEAI will do to try to get contractors in the midlands to start doing some of this work. It seems seemed a fairly sensible question to ask. The representatives stated that it had nothing to do with the SEAI. Will the latter be directed to engage with contractors across the midland counties to ensure that there are sufficient local contractors to carry out the work?

Mr. Goodwin will be aware that the ESB decision not to resubmit a planning application will change the energy mix. It will impact on grid stability, particularly in the north west, and demand for electricity in the Dublin area. The only renewables on the grid are wind and solar and some hydro. Biomass will go off the grid in 2023 if the plant in Edenderry ceases production. Is Mr. Goodwin concerned that the removal of biomass could significantly constrict our energy mix?

What are the ESB's plans for retaining the plants in Lanesborough and Shannonbridge? We do not want a repeat of the mistake made in decommissioning the sugar plants in Carlow and Mallow. All our bioethanol is being imported because we have no way of processing it here.

Will Mr. Donnellan outline the status of bioenergy within Bord na Móna? As he is aware, in 2017 the Government decided to establish a supply chain for biomass into Lanesborough and Shannonbridge. There seems to have been a deficiency in that regard in the planning application that was submitted by the ESB. The decision of An Bord Pleanála that no imported biomass can be used for power generation has a significant impact on the development of a biomass industry because in order to encourage farmers to grow biomass, there must be demand for the product. One cannot meet demand without importing biomass in the short term. We have the ability to grow and deliver a significant amount of biomass, which would have climate benefits as well as economic benefits across the midlands. As the decision of An Bord Pleanála has not been appealed and no new planning application submitted, the decision effectively shuts down our biomass sector.

I apologise in advance if I return to the Dáil before the witnesses finish replying. I will see their responses in the Official Report.