asked the Minister for Energy the amount of money spent from the EC and from his Department on research on biomass over the past five years; and if it is proposed to have further money spent on this research.
Written Answers. - Biomass Research.
504.
Since 1979 EC moneys for biomass demonstration work paid to Ireland amounted to £1.28 million. Issues from my Department for biomass during the same period amounted to £32,500. Results to date from the main area of the biomass demonstration programme — the short rotation forestry project of Bord na Móna and Forestry and Wildlife Service — have been very disappointing. A new smaller research programme is now planned by Bord na Móna and An Foras Talúntais. My Department will continue to support this and other work on biomass, but we must take account of experience to date in deciding the allocation of further moneys.
Under an EC demonstration scheme grants are continuing to be made available for biomass for which Irish projects are eligible for inclusion. They have to compete with similar proposals from other member states but only those which are considered to have a worthwhile benefit within the Community obtain assistance.