Massive boost for green jobs, says Ryan

A €5 MILLION increase on last year’s budgetary estimate for the Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources (DCENR), to just over €517m for 2010 will result in “thousands of jobs” and supports the Government’s green economy motives, according to Energy Minister Eamon Ryan.

“This Government has insisted that we have the economic strategy to bring us into recovery. The investment and the jobs of tomorrow will be low-carbon and high-tech,” Mr Ryan said in the wake of yesterday’s Budget announcement.

He added: “Over 15,000 jobs have already been created in the green economy. Every euro this department spends will be focused on jobs for our people in the growing area of the green and digital economies. The increase in my department’s allocation will go directly into providing thousands of jobs for Irish people and it reflects the fact that the Government has decided that sustainable energy and building our broadband infrastructure represents the best kind of stimulus for the Irish economy.”

Some €12.9m is to be spent on energy research next year; another €50m will go on extending the Government’s national insulation programme and €36m will go on re-fitting low income housing.

The €330m coming from the carbon tax will, the Government said, be used to boost energy efficiency and support rural transport.

“This announcement sends a positive signal to those gathered in Copenhagen, working for an ambitious agreement on global climate change,” Mr Lenihan said on the subject.

However, AA Ireland said that the tax on petrol and diesel will only succeed in sending motorists north of the border to avail of cheaper fuel.