Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Independent)
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130. To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if there will be any negative impact upon the ability of Bord Gáis Energy to fund research and development projects into alternative energy by indigenous companies as a result of the sale of Bord Gáis Energy; if so, the way in which he intends to replace this source of funding; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19954/13]

Pat Rabbitte (Dublin South West, Labour)
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Bord Gáis Éireann has invested both capital and resources into specific research and development projects providing support to emerging technologies and it is hoped that this investment will deliver added value to the company’s energy business, Bord Gáis Energy, which will shortly be offered for sale as part of the State Assets Disposal Programme.

Any future funding by this company will be solely a matter for a potential future owner of Bord Gáis Energy.

The Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation is taking forward Ireland’s overall Research and Development framework and in 2012 Ministers Bruton and Sherlock launched a national research prioritisation plan for Ireland to target the majority of the Government’s core €500 million budget that the State spends on scientific research every year on areas with the greatest potential for economic return. Research priorities that were identified for the energy sector include the area of smart grids/smart cities and the area of marine renewable energy.