Sorca Clarke (Longford-Westmeath, Sinn Fein)
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221. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if his attention has been drawn to the continued shortage of wood pellets for use in wood pellet stoves and the impact this will have this winter on householders who have removed solid fuel heating systems and rely on wood pellet stoves to heat their homes. [50697/22]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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My Department is aware of the significant impact on energy prices due to external factors, including the war in Ukraine. Prices for oil, gas, including wood pellets and firewood has seen increases, resulting from increased demand and restricted supply.

Using wood for energy and wood pellets to heat homes is an excellent alternative to using fossil fuels. On the Island of Ireland, we have a number of suppliers manufacturing wood pellets and material is available in a number of outlets. I would also point out that Irelands forests are currently producing over 4 million cubic metres of roundwood each year and this supply will increase to over 6 million cubic metres by 2030. An increasing supply of biomass provides the raw material for the production of pellets and biomass for energy.