Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 18 April 2012
771 Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources his plans to harness renewable sources of energy, such as wave energy on the west coast; the progress made of any supported or funded by him into maximising the effectiveness of harnessing such sources of energy in view of the potential for employment creation and in making Ireland a net exporter of energy. [19337/12]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Government is committed to realising the long term economic potential of Ireland's ocean energy resources. The commercial and technical feasibility of ocean energy technology still requires a considerable level of research, development and demonstration. Building on the work to date and subject to budgetary considerations, I am continuing to support the development of the sector through the Ocean Energy Development Unit in the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI), working with the Marine Institute, IDA, Enterprise Ireland, Science Foundation Ireland (SFI) and the Marine Energy Research Centre at UCC as well as with the industry itself. The Government's commitment to progressing the development of ocean energy is underpinned by the inclusion of marine renewable energy research as a priority in the National Research Prioritisation Report published last year.
