Seán Sherlock (Cork East, Labour)

In that review I ask the Minister of State to recognise that €1,450 is too modest a grant sum because the input cost is high enough for individual farmers who might wish to move into growing miscanthus. If the sum were to be increased it would encourage more growers.

There is no doubt about the potential of miscanthus especially for the anufacture of pellets and firelogs, as the Minister of State outlined. Demand is growing exponentially and on an almost weekly basis. The delay does not relate to miscanthus being brought to market but rather it revolves around trying to encourage more farmers to grow it. The only way to achieve the latter is to provide a greater incentive at the start-up point. I, therefore, ask that the Minister of State to consider increasing the start-up grant.

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