Green Party leader Eamon Ryan encouraged the Government to put three investment projects at the top of the Stimulus List that they are negotiating with our European Union colleagues at present.
Retrofit Public Sector Buildings for Energy Efficiency – National and international analysis shows that investing in retrofit gives a long-term saving rather than a cost to the Exchequer. Going into every school, hospital and publicly-owned office block would make them more comfortable and cheaper to run. We would save on our six billion euro fossil fuel import bill, and create a sustainable new construction industry.
New Electricity Interconnectors – The ten year grid plan for Europe includes two new lines between Ireland and the UK, and Ireland and France. Funding for this is available via the 'Connecting Europe' facility and the European Investment Bank (EIB). A further benefit from this investment is that it would increase the value of the generating assets in Bord Gáis that the Government is looking to sell. Buyers of the wind farms involved would know that they could sell that power into a larger European market.
-- Advertisement --
Dublin Metro and the Underground DART Line – The Dublin Metro is the most "shovel ready" project we have. Having taken ten years to get through the planning system, it could be employing 4,000 construction workers within in a few short years. The EIB has already carried out an economic analysis of the project and approved a five hundred million euro loan for it. The remaining funding could be provided by European Project Bonds and from the private sector. The Metro and new DART line from Heuston Station to Spencer Dock would do more than anything else to secure the future of the Financial Services Centre and the growing digital hub in the heart of Dublin City Centre.
Mr Ryan said: "These Green projects are all tried, tested and ready to go. We need these before we need more roads or more buildings to add to the stock we already have. We will get support from Europe if we are seen to be going Green. This is a once off chance for our Government to use the precious financial resources we can still raise to create a truly sustainable economy. I wish them luck and I hope they don't blow it."
(CD)
