The Taoiseach’s hope that the newly announced Biomass Project for Killala could encourage the growing of renewable crops in Co. Mayo might never happen unless he ensures a more coordinated and proactive response from the relevant government departments.

This was stated by Independent MEP Marian Harkin when she described the Department of Agriculture and the Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources as failures in developing the potential of renewable crops in Ireland.

She said:- “I warmly welcome the development of any job creating project in Co. Mayo but it is extraordinary that, as of now, the raw material to be burned in the plant is wood to be shipped from the USA”, she said.  Irish farmers were fully capable of growing renewable crops, like willow and miscanthus, but the disgraceful way in which miscanthus growers were treated by being encouraged to grow the crop and then being left without a market had undermined the confidence of farmers in investing in renewable crop production.

"In order to grow crops for renewables, farmers must have the confidence that it will prove to be an activity capable of competing with alternative enterprises on their farms. We know that Mayo Renewable Power will benefit from Ireland´s Renewable Energy Feed-in-Tariff (REFIT) programme which will guarantee the plant a minimum price for the electricity it sells. However farmers also need some kind of assurance as to the price they will be paid.

"Experience to date has shown that unless there is a price assurance combined with a guaranteed outlet, farmers will be very reluctant to commit land to biomass production. The building of Mayo Renewable Power presents significant opportunities for both farmers and the local economy in north Mayo but a coordinated policy approach is absolutely essential to guarantee that success”, Independent MEP Marian Harkin concluded.