Richard Boyd Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, People Before Profit Alliance)
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Question 28: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources his plans to progress the proposal for the amalgamation of Bord na Móna and Coillte into Bio Energy Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10952/11]

Pat Rabbitte (Dublin South West, Labour)
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In the context of the NewERA Plan the Government commits to an ambitious strategy of accelerating the development of Ireland's forestry and bioenergy resources.

I will be working with Minister Rabbitte as well as the Minister for Agriculture, Marine and Food, and all relevant Ministers to develop a national Bioenergy Strategy in addition to developing the comprehensive business case to underpin the merger of Bord na Móna and Coillte. The Programme for Government envisages the creation of a new State company to be called BioEnergy Ireland through the merger in question.

My immediate priority is to expedite the finalisation of the national Bioenergy Strategy as the key to unlocking the potential of the national bioenergy resources. The systematic development of those abundant bioenergy resources in terms of supply and demand will critically support rural development by providing new markets and employment development opportunities for the agriculture, farming and forestry sectors.