Energy Minister Denis Naughten has been called to explain how he intends to spend the €100 million allocated in Budget 2017 for energy projects.

Fianna Fáil Spokesperson on Communications, Environment and Climate Change, Timmy Dooley TD said the public are "fed up" with Ministers making announcements without backing them up.

He said: "The Minister says that 116,000 tonnes in carbon emissions will be saved every year and that it would support around 3,000 jobs, but we need to see the details behind these plans.

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"We need detailed plans. €100 million is a significant amount of money, and we need to be confident that it will be money well spent."

He continued: "The same has been happening with the National Broadband Plan for years – loads of spin and multiple announcements, but virtually no delivery.

"I note an additional €5 million has been allocated towards the tendering process in 2017, but will this have any impact on clawing back the delays that have dogged the process?

"The current guess is that the rural broadband scheme might be rolled out by 2023, but who really knows? It has been delay, after delay, after delay with both this and the previous Fine Gael led Government when it comes to broadband connectivity."

(CD/LM)