Denis Naughten
Ceist:213 Mr. Naughten asked the Minister for the Marine and Natural Resources the progress made in approving funding for the energy valley project, Arigna, County Roscommon; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22369/01]
Written Answers. - Energy Valley Project.
As explained in previous answers, funding of £600,000 was approved in principle for this project by the Minister for Finance, subject to submission by the promoters, the Arigna Energy Valley Limited, AEVC, of business plans showing the viability of the project.
I commissioned a consultant to produce a due diligence report on the project and I discussed that report with the AEVC in April last. The consultant and the AEVC were at variance on financial aspects of the project and I requested the AEVC to review the situation in discussion with the consultant. It did not prove possible to arrange a meeting between the parties until July due to the unavailability of members of the AEVC. Following submission of additional information by the AEVC, a final draft consultant's report was presented to my Department in late August. A copy of that report was sent to the AEVC for comment on 13 September. I await its response.