Noel Dempsey (Meath, Fianna Fail)

——CHP and renewable electricity development. Two weeks ago, in Galway, I launched a new ocean energy strategy, which was developed by Sustainable Energy Ireland, SEI, and the Marine Institute. This is further evidence of the Government's integrated approach to delivery. As the first stage in implementing this strategy, we have recently upgraded the hydraulics and maritime research centre in UCC as well as opening an ocean energy test site a mile and a half off the coast of Spiddal, County Galway. This 37 hectare site will be open to test prototype ocean energy devices. The first wave energy device, WaveBob, has been deployed on the Spiddal site.

SEI and the Marine Institute are also currently supporting a number of other ocean energy research and development initiatives. Ireland has one of the most promising ocean energy resources in the world and we are positioning ourselves at the forefront of development of this resource.

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