Denis Naughten (Roscommon-Galway, Independent) | Oireachtas source

It is a pity the Minister did not actually respond to the question I put to him. Hopefully he will do that in his supplementary response. HVO is both relatively cheap and easy to switch. Some 90% of HVO could be blended with a 10% kerosene mix in existing oil-fired central heating systems with the cost of converting the boiler at about €300. This compares with a cost of conversion of about €80,000 for an air source heat-pump to a house built 50 or 60 years ago. However, there are issues with availability and the lack of any interest in creating a native industry to produce the fuel. We could produce rapeseed oil to meet the demand for HVO here. This would reduce biogenic methane emissions from cattle and provide a badly needed cash crop for Irish farmers. It should not be beyond our capacity in this country, with such agencies as Teagasc, to create such an industry. Will the Minister commit to doing that?

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