Martin Ferris (Kerry North, Sinn Fein)

I welcome the indications that the Government is focusing on ways of increasing the use of renewable energy. Hopefully, this will lead to increases in tax incentives to use biofuels and to improving the take-up of grants for the growers of energy crops, and to improved energy efficiency in homes. Perhaps the Government would consider including all recipients of fuel allowances in grant schemes, such as the greener home schemes and that covering installation costs. Both involve considerable initial outlay but would prove cost effective in the long run in terms of savings on energy and in savings for many of those caught in the fuel poverty trap as a result of illness which imposes a considerable cost on the health services.

On the issue of biofuels I refer to the loss of the massive potential represented by former sugar factories at Carlow and Mallow. The beet crop and the facilities being destroyed could have been redirected towards this end. Instead Greencore has chosen to go into property development while leaving its formers workers, growers and contractors high and dry. I propose that the State make a compulsory purchase order on the former Carlow and Mallow sites. By doing so the State would recoup the public interest in what was a successful public enterprise before being handed over to Greencore which stands to make a massive profit through asset stripping. The State could buy the sites at agricultural value and ensure they are used in the best interests of the people of Carlow and Mallow in terms of attracting employment, including biofuel processing to Mallow, affordable housing and all round balanced development.

Today I was contacted by a farmer in the Mallow area who told me that along with other business people he could guarantee to raise an investment of €150 million if the Government or Greencore was prepared to do likewise and convert the factory at Mallow and, by extension, the factory at Carlow into biofuel production sites. I ask the Minister to consider that proposal.

I welcome the indications in the Estimates on renewable energy and I hope we will see concrete measures in the budget.

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