Dáil debates

Tuesday, 24 March 2009

4:00 pm

Photo of Michael CreedMichael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael)

I thank the Minister of State for his reply and welcome the Department's decision, albeit somewhat belatedly, to reallocate the proportion of the 900 hectares not taken up in respect of willow planting. I wish to ask two supplementary questions of the Minister of State.

Has the Department conducted an analysis of the reason take-up in respect of willow planting is not similar to that in respect of miscanthus planting? It may be that willow planting is less attractive owing to cost and the lead-in time in terms of harvesting, which is longer. In this regard, if we move from a pilot phase to an established grant aid scheme for these green energy crops, will the Minister of State consider increasing the incentive for willow, which has great potential as a green energy crop? Will the Minister of State consider moving the scheme from a pilot phase to the introduction of a broadly available grant scheme? Also, has he considered the reason willow has not been availed of to the same extent as miscanthus?

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