Vol. 443 No. 7
180 Mr. Creed asked the Minister for Transport, Energy and Communications the grants that are available either from his Department or from the European Union to private developers involved in the generation of electricity for sale to the national grid from hydroelectric schemes.
In accordance with its commitment to the greater utilisation of alternative energy sources, the Government set a target of 75 megawatts for the generation of electricity from additional alternative energy sources including hydro power before 1997. On foot of this decision the ESB, in consultation with our Department developed a competitive scheme to ensure that such supplies are available from independent producers within the specified period. The scheme comprises a combination of price support and grant aid the eventual cost of which will be transparently identified and passed on to the consumer.
At a European Union level the THERMIE Programme has grant aided a number of Irish alternative energy projects including hydro power. The programme expires in 1994 but will effectively be continued under the Fourth Framework Programme from 1995.
