A new Oireachtas committee set up to help create green jobs is to meet today.
The Sub-Committee on Job Creation through Use of Renewable Energy Resources will focus particularly on opportunities for renewable energy projects in rural and undeveloped areas of the State.
Under its terms of reference, the committee will consider the creation of jobs through setting up local enterprises that can be provided with electricity and heat from locally produced renewable energy resources.
It will recommend three sites - one in Connacht/Donegal, one in Leinster/Cavan/Monaghan and one in Munster for locating such projects.
The committee will carry out a public consultation process, request local authorities to submit proposals for their area, and seek the support of State Bodies in identifying suitable enterprises to be located in the three locations.
Labour enterprise spokesman Willie Penrose, chairman of the sub-committee, said the emerging industry could help counter the recession.
“Greater use of renewable energy is not just good for economic, energy security and environmental reasons, it has the potential to create thousands of new jobs in Ireland,” he said.
“Given the economic downturn, this has the potential to offset job losses in other sectors and provide new opportunities for workers with a variety of skills.
“Renewable energy projects provide opportunities at every stage of development from initial research through to manufacturing, construction, operation and maintenance,” added Mr Penrose.
The sub-committee will look at opportunities for job creation in new technologies such as biomass and energy crops.
Lawrence Staudt and Paul MacArtain of the Centre for Renewable Energy at Dundalk Institute of Technology will tell the committee’s first meeting about its renewable energy research and development and academic programme.
The sub-committee is to submit its report to the Joint Committee on Enterprise, Trade and Employment by October 1st next year.
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