FDII criticises lack of biofuel incentives

FOOD AND DRINK Industry Ireland (FDII), an IBEC offshoot, has express- ed disappointment at last week’s Budget to help the industry deal with rapidly rising energy costs.

FDII highlighted the lack of an increase in the excise relief scheme for biofuels and in excise relief for conventional fuels.

FDII director Paul Kelly said: “Extending the tax relief scheme for corporate investment in biomass technology for a further five years and providing €6 million in grant aid for the production of energy crops, although helpful, is not enough. The move will not provide the necessary critical mass to initiate large scale activity in the agri-food sector, which has great potential both as a producer of biomass energy as well as being an end user.”