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Industry representatives have slammed the relaunched Department
of Agriculture Bioenergy Scheme as not doing enough to support
the sector.
The new phase of the scheme,
which runs for three years, limits the maximum production
area per applicant to 30ha. The scheme, which is co-funded
by the EU, allows for an establishment grant of up to 50pc
for the growing of willow and miscanthus.
However, those active in the industry claim it doesn't go
far enough to support the sector, which has been described
as "the greatest opportunity in farming for decades".
Joe Hogan of JHM
Crops Ltd in Adare, Co Limerick, told a Teagasc bioenergy
conference
in Carlow that he could offer 7-year contracts to growers
- or even longer, if it were needed.
Under the new scheme, growers have to prove they have secured
an end-use contract for their product. "There is not enough
miscanthus in Ireland for its current uses, not to
mind the proposed uses for it," Mr Hogan said.
Raymond O'Neill of Waterford-based Natural
Power Supply Ltd, which specialises in the sale of
pellet and woodchip boilers, said Ireland's potential for
growing willow was not being exploited fully. He said
the structure of Government supports was not adequate and
industry had to be led to stimulate demand.
Mr O'Neill called for a premium payment for willow
production as has happened in forestry. He also called for
the co-fuelling of power stations.
Mel McDonagh from the Department of Agriculture warned prospective
applicants for the Bioenergy Scheme 2010-2012 that the March
31 deadline was absolute and late applications could not be
accepted.
Details of the Bioenergy Scheme and application forms can
be obtained from - Biofuels Policy Unit, Department of Agriculture,
Fisheries and Food, Kea-Lew Business Park, Mountrath Road,
Portlaoise, Co. Laois.
Telephone 057-8692231/8692240 or online - Click
Here
Source - The Irish Independent
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