Eamon Ryan (Dublin South, Green Party)

The main focus of expenditure to date in the energy RTDI programme has been the Charles Parsons awards. At the end of 2006, €7.9 million was paid out under the awards to the recipient projects for 2007, 2008 and 2009. The next tranche of funds under the Charles Parsons awards falls due in 2010. Payment will be dependent on the fulfilment of all conditions in the respective contracts with the third level institutions concerned. These include satisfactory progress reports each year on outputs and outcomes. I expect the Energy Research Council to submit the energy research strategy to me in early 2008, which will advise on priority research areas up to 2013.

The decision was taken in the autumn to redeploy 2007 energy RTDI funding to meet exponential demand under Sustainable Energy Ireland's programmes this year. This reflected in particular the success of SEI grant-aided schemes for renewable energy in homes and represented optimal use of the funds available under the research subhead. In the event, expenditure under the energy RTDI subhead is estimated at €515,000 to year end.

As announced on budget day, just over €13 million has been provided for energy RTDI in 2008, which includes significant new funding of €5.3 million for ocean energy research. The Government is committed to a significant investment programme to make Ireland a world leader in ocean energy. From 2008, targeted funding for research and development in ocean energy will help us to reach our ambitious target of 75 megawatts by 2012 and at least 500 megawatts by 2020. A fully integrated approach to ocean energy development will be underpinned by the establishment of the national ocean energy unit next year.

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