Trevor Sargent (Dublin North, Green Party)

For example, there has been a good take-up in miscanthus, more so than willow. Anecdotally, it seems people felt that miscanthus was less of a long-term commitment and that it could be grubbed up. However, the horticultural experts tell me that it is quite difficult to do so. Once one has miscanthus one has it for a while. One needs to be used to it and be sure of what one is doing. Willow is easier to get rid of but because it seems more wood-like, people think it is more permanent. These are questions that people are facing up to. Edenderry has been carrying out an experiment on co-firing with miscanthus on a larger scale to see whether there is a market there. It appears, however, that has not been as successful as was expected. Perhaps willow, which has not been so widely taken up, would be more effective in that regard because it has the scope for use as wood pellets and wood chips. In addition, it has more well-established uses. We are in new territory.

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