Shane McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 37 and 65 together.

The Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food supports the planting of miscanthus and willow crops by giving farmers grant aid under the bioenergy scheme. Farmers are paid a grant of up to a maximum of €1,300 per hectare to cover 50% of the cost of establishing the crop. This scheme is co-funded by the EU under the rural development programme.

In 2010 the area planted under the scheme was 353 hectares. For 2011, 89 applications were received and approvals to plant 480 hectares have issued to date. There are 14 further applications, with a total of 260 hectares, with outstanding issues. The Department is pursuing these with the applicants. It continues to work closely with other Departments and agencies, particularly Teagasc and the Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources, with a view to maximising the development of the bioenergy sector.

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