Oireachtas Joint and Select Committees

Tuesday, 28 May 2024

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action

Finalisation of Draft National Energy and Climate Plan and the National Long-Term Strategy: Discussion

Photo of Christopher O'SullivanChristopher O'Sullivan (Cork South West, Fianna Fail)
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Deputy Kenny touched on the issue of biomethane gas. As the Minister knows, I introduced a Bill in the Dáil on anaerobic digestion because I genuinely see the potential for it in rural areas to be done on almost a co-operative basis with farms, distilleries, chicken farms or whatever basically being the input into these anaerobic digesters and then having the digestate for fertiliser. It is almost the definition of the circular economy. I am hearing a sea change in the Minister's attitude towards it. Regarding the grants of €40 million, what will they go towards? Is there any detail about where this €40 million will go in terms of grant aid?

We are discussing the EPA report today. The EPA appeared before this committee last week. I get the impression that it has an aversion to anaerobic digesters in general. I know this from the incredibly high standards compared with the UK and Europe in terms of the different aspects environmentally. It seems to be very low on the EPA's list of priorities, and unless we get that sorted out, we will not see the number of anaerobic digesters we need to reduce emissions and allow farmers to play their part. Will the Minister comment on that?