Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 15 December 2022
400. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if farmers who had to cease willow production will receive compensation payments under the Just Transition Programme due to the substantial costs that they have incurred in exiting such production; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [63015/22]
View answerA Bioenergy Scheme to facilitate the establishment of energy crops (willow and miscanthus) for use in renewable energy production was in operation from 2007 to 2015. This scheme provided significant support to offset establishment costs for energy crops but there was little uptake at the time.
This scheme has now ceased, and the Department is not aware of any plans to make compensation payments available to willow producers under the Just Transition Programme.
