Published: Wednesday, 21st April, 2010 5:00pm

Cavan switched on to green energy

Back (from left): Barry Caslin, Teagasc Bio Energy Specialist; Michael Smith, chair, Cavan County Executive FG; John Toland, Cavan/Monaghan Leader; Catherine Keogan, Gaeltacht Energy Developments, environmental manager; Frank Cooney, Cooney Architects and Deputy Seymour Crawford; front, Jack Keyes, County Manager; Leila Shaddadi; Senator Joe O'Reilly and Simon Coveney TD, FG Spokesperson on Communications, Energy and Natural Resources. (Code: 240410 Joe Seminar1 LT)

A green energy seminar, hosted by Senator Joe O'Reilly on Monday evening in the Hotel Kilmore, attracted huge interest with a crowd of about 400 people present. The Cavan Fine Gael representative has expressed his delight at the success of the green energy and job creation seminar.

Everyone who attended received an information pack, detailing grants available from Sustainable Energy Ireland (SEI) under various schemes such as green homes and warmer homes. Senator O' Reilly hosted the seminar and the keynote speakers on the night included County Manager, Jack Keyes and Deputy Simon Coveney, Fine Gael spokesperson on Communications, Energy and Natural Resources.

Mr. Keyes gave a PowerPoint presentation of Cavan County Council's role in ensuring Cavan is a clean and green county and Cavan's successful wind farm business.

Simon Coveney gave an in depth presentation on New Era, which is Fine Gael's policy on reshaping our economy, generating new employment in the green sector and financing and building new modern infrastructure.

Other speakers on the night were John Toland, Cavan/Monaghan Leader; Barry Caslin, Teagasc, who spoke on the development of the bio fuel industry and how it will affect Cavan Farmers; Catherine Keogan from Galetech gave an interesting presentation on large scale wind farms in the county; and Frank Cooney, architect, gave a presentation on the steps a householder can take to ensure their home is cleaner and greener.

Presentations on grant assistance available were also delivered by Leila Shaddadi and Terence McManus from Solar Direct gave a very useful presentation on solar panel installation for homeowners.

The seminar was officially opened by Seymour Crawford TD and closed by Michael Smith.

"The night was a resounding success for everyone involved. I was delighted with the turnout of people. We had almost 400 people in attendance and I would like to thank them very much for their presence and playing their part to make the night such a success. During our question and answer session we had a great range of questions from the floor, which I feel really reflects on how the people of Cavan have a keen interest in the green sector.

"On the night I also made reference to a brand new initiative that I am eager to set up, job regeneration scheme, Cavan. This scheme will consist of a voluntary group of people from various disciplines who can offer practical advice and mentorship to anyone in Cavan who are unemployed and are looking to start up their own business. This is a local response to the national problem of unemployment and I really do feel that this scheme will benefit our county and the people in it in so many ways," concluded Senator O'Reilly.