Vol. 485 No. 3
85 Mr. Gormley asked the Minister for Public Enterprise the total public and EU subsidy to the energy sector, including gas interconnector, new peat-fired station and so on, between 1992 and 1997; the total subsidy paid to the non-fossil fuel sector for the same period; and the reason her Department holds the view that switching to carbon free or carbon neutral sources of energy is hampered by high costs. [23361/97]
As the Deputy's question is broad-ranging, I propose to concentrate on major energy infrastructural projects. State capital funding was not provided for any major energy projects during the period 1992 to 1997.
EU funds, totalling £104 million were paid to major energy projects in that period, including the Ireland-UK gas interconnector and work related to the extension of the national gas network.
In addition to this support, non-fossil fuel projects availed of EU capital grants, primarily under the THERMIE programme, and to a lesser extent under the Valoren programme during this period. The total EU funds secured for Irish non-fossil fuel projects in that period amounted to almost £9.3 million.
It is an over simplification to say that switching to carbon free or carbon neutral sources of energy is hampered by high costs. There is a multiplicity of factors which must be taken into account in arriving at energy supply decisions.
