Alternative Farm Enterprises.

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 10 March 2009

Tuesday, 10 March 2009

Questions (436, 437)

Michael Creed

Question:

469 Deputy Michael Creed asked the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement regarding the operation of the bio-energy establishment grant scheme and in particular his decision to allocate 900 hectares exclusively for willow; if he is satisfied that this allocation will be availed of in 2009; if not, if he will make arrangements immediately for the allocation of the balance of the 900 hectares to miscanthus growers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10035/09]

John Deasy

Question:

474 Deputy John Deasy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food the number of hectares in respect of which applications have been received for grant aid under the third round of the bioenergy scheme to grow each of the crops, willow and miscanthus; if there is a national upper limit to the total number of hectares of each of the crops which will be eligible for grant aid under BES; if over-subscription in respect of one of the crops will be accommodated from under-subscription of the other; if there has been a change in the practice in this respect in the current round compared to previous rounds; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10041/09]

Written answers

Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (Deputy Brendan Smith)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 469 and 474 together.

The third Phase of the Bioenergy Scheme (2009) was launched in December 2008 to provide establishment grants to farmers to plant miscanthus and willow. As in previous years, the 2009 budget provision was split evenly between both crops. €2 million was made available to support the planting of 900 hectares of miscanthus and 900 hectares of willow. Overall, my Department received 271 applications to plant 1,850 hectares of miscanthus and 360 hectares of willow. My Department has issued ‘approvals' in respect of the 900 hectares of miscanthus and is preparing ‘approvals' for the 360 hectares of willow. The question of re-allocating unused funding from the allocation under the Bioenergy Scheme for willow planting to accommodate additional miscanthus planting in 2009 is currently being considered.