Govt criticised again over oil and gas prices

The Government came under yet more criticism today over the rising oil and gas prices.

It was being accused of cutting the nations spend on sustainable energy initiatives.

Friends of the Irish Environment said €15m of EU funding was reallocated last year as it wasn't being spent, and now the government proposes to reallocate a further five million.

Spokesman Tony Lowes said the situation was a disgrace: "There's EU money they're going to lose if they don't use it in some other way - the problem is they haven't pulled their finger out. The Department of the Marine and Natural Resources are behind this and they haven't done it. They haven't ensured that the money is being spent and so now we're saying to the EU 'well we'll spend it on something else!'. It's not good enough.”