Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

There is a real role for anaerobic digestion. It is something we need to progress. I have secured funding for it under the national development plan in terms of capital investment to support pilot initiatives in this area. It is a far more expensive way of producing energy than other renewable alternatives, but it has the benefit of feeding into the circular economy and making use of nutrients and taking energy from it as well as retaining the fertiliser capacity of the nutrients for that purpose. I am very focussed on it. The Department and officials are working with the Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications in respect of moving this forward. There is real potential. It is undoubtedly expensive as a straightforward energy production method.