Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 26 September 2023
440. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine further to Parliamentary Question No. 1315 of 11 September 2023, if he will advise on additional correspondence (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41254/23]
View answerThe previous Parliamentary Question referred to by the Deputy referred to whether or not this Department ever made a submission or application for funding for a grant aid scheme for digester farm waste unit. In my response, I clearly set out that the financial opportunities for capital support for the development of a biomethane sector in Ireland is an action being led by the Department of Environment, Climate and Communications (DECC) and is linked to the development of a National Biomethane Strategy aligned with bioeconomy development which is being co-led by this Department and DECC. I further outlined two examples of capital commitments made by my Department in relation to supporting the anaerobic digestion industry in Ireland.
This question refers specifically to REPowerEU plan which was published by the European Commission in May 2022. In order to support the delivery of the REPowerEU plan, additional funding is being provided via the EU's Recovery and Resilience Facility. There was no opportunity in 2022 for Ireland to avail of this funding as the relevant EU legislation had not been enacted. Ireland will be able to avail of EU funding for REPowerEU through the addition of a new chapter to the National Recovery and Resilience Plan. The preparation of this chapter is being led by the Department of Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform with input from my Department and other relevant Departments.
