Solar grants and farm microgeneration
Deputy Murnane O'Connor raised limits on solar grants for farmers and also congratulated a Tullow butcher on a world sausage award. The Taoiseach joked about the sausages, then said he would speak to the Minister on microgeneration so farmers can use energy on-farm and eventually export to the grid.
I have welcomed the revised planning exemption for the installation of rooftop solar panels. However, there is an issue regarding support for the installation of these panels. We have discovered that farmers who want to avail of solar panel grants can only use the electricity generated from those grant-aided panels on the farm they sit on and cannot pass on the benefit. I spoke to a businessman in Tullow about this issue this week. Murphy's Butchers has won the award for the best pork sausages in the world. I congratulate Laz Murphy of Murphy's Butchers in Tullow. It is a great achievement.
Comment on this
His name is Laz Murphy and his business is Murphy's Butchers in Tullow. As the Taoiseach knows, this is a business that relies heavily on refrigeration. Mr. Murphy inquired about solar panels and, following a survey, decided to double his planned amount of money for installation. He was told he would not get the extra grant approved. He was very disappointed because he wants to install all these panels, on which he really relies. As I said to him, this is part of the programme for Government so I know the Taoiseach will do what he can.
Comment on this
The Deputy took me to many places when I was in Carlow last week, but I am very annoyed that she did not introduce me to Laz Murphy's sausages.
Comment on this
I heard that. Clonakilty is listening in. The serious point is about microgeneration. I will talk to the Minister, Deputy Eamon Ryan, regarding the first point the Deputy made in respect of farmers, where microgeneration can be used for energy within the farm but also for selling on to the grid eventually. That is the objective of the scheme. We want farming to become more involved on the energy side. Farming has very strong potential on the energy side. In fact, from the most recent consideration of this, the contribution agriculture can make through anaerobic digestion schemes, and many other schemes, is enormous as regards the development of energy. Am I out of time? I am sorry about that.