Vol. 466 No. 1
37 Mr. Molloy asked the Minister for Transport, Energy and Communications his views on whether EU funding of the Nuclear Fusion Research Programme should be reduced considerably and the funds redirected to programmes to develop renewable energy sources and the promotion of energy conservation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10854/96]
I am in favour of EU funding for nuclear fusion research being reduced and redirected towards renewable energy and conservation.
My Department promotes research in the areas of energy conservation and renewables with the assistance of the EU Joule energy research programme. Joule has a budget of 435MECU for the period of 1994 to 1998. The commission issue a competitive call for tender under this programme every two years. In 1995, and as a result of the 1994 call, 13 projects with an Irish involvement were offered support, resulting in a total financial benefit to Ireland of over £1 million.
The Nuclear Fusion Research Programme has been allocated 840MECU by the EU under the Fourth Framework Programme for the period 1994 to 1998. Spending is currently running at approximately 200MECU per year. Fusion research has a long time frame and expenditure on it is not likely to impact on energy supplies for some decades, if ever. In October 1995, at the request of Ireland and the Netherlands, the EU Research Council initiated an external assessment of the fusion research programme, in order to evaluate progress to date, before deciding on future strategy. This assessment which is ongoing at present will include a comparison with other types of energy generation, including renewables.
