Mr. Tom Bruton:

Yes, Chairman. It would be remiss not to convey some of the sense of the frustration of the Irish BioEnegy Association members around policy implementation. The SSRH, as it now known was conceived of in 2013 and mentioned in a draft bioenergy plan in 2014. Now we are in 2018, and the scheme is not open for applications. No application has been made to Brussels for state aid for that scheme. It is quite frustrating that 800 tonnes of oil are being burned every day, while that scheme is being cooked too slowly for the needs of industry. There is an industry waiting to deliver on it and install boilers, with farmers and foresters waiting to supply crops and forest thinnings into this. There is an urgent need to meet the 2020 target for renewable heat. It is part of the Irish BioEnergy Association's everyday job to try to turn around to members and explain why the opportunity is not open and available in the short term.