As discussions continue on the details of the scheme, Minister for Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform Paschal Donohoe has announced that €17m will be available for the RHI in 2018 as well as incentives for the uptake of electric vehicles.

Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment Denis Naughten later clarified that only €7m of this would go towards the RHI.

The allocation is lower than predicted by industry representatives, but with applications only expected to open only in the second half of 2018, next year will not be a full one for the operation of the RHI scheme.

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Budget 2018: the key measures hitting farmers' pockets

Full coverage: Budget 2018