Thomas Pringle (Donegal South West, Independent)

I thank the Minister for his reply, although only the last two sentences address my question. There is great potential to create an indigenous wood for home heating industry which would offset the importation of home heating oil. Given that, as the Minister stated, we are currently importing all the heating oil we use, such a development would greatly assist with our balance of payments. The industry would be based in rural areas, where we already produce more wood than is needed to heat the entire country. It would create jobs, something of which we have heard so much from the Government under the so-called NewERA.

Unfortunately, the Minister did not address these aspects in the opening part of his answer. Will the Government support the development of a wood for home heating industry and thus facilitate the creation of indigenous jobs and a reduction in imports of home heating oil? That would be of significant benefit to the economy and would help to address fuel poverty.

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