Andrew Doyle (Wicklow, Fine Gael)

As the acreage is dropping, the figures speak for themselves. There is no doubt about it, but why is it dropping? The political drive to get renewable energy into the system by making it viable is the key point because it is not considered viable. The Minister of State referred to the viability of miscanthus versus willow. There was a huge uptake in forestry when grants and incentives were there, but it has slowed down. It is a permanent 30-year cycle, so it has nothing to do with that. We hope to have a bio-energy initiative with Bord na Móna and Coillte. Until such time as landowners are convinced that growing renewable energy crops is viable, they will not do it. Is it possible to take from these figures what is glaringly obvious - that it is not viable? Does the Government propose to redirect policy towards it?

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