Denis Naughten (Roscommon-Galway, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I confirm that the SEAI has estimated that the cost to Ireland may be in the range of €100 million to €150 million for every percentage point by which we fall short. This does not relate to fines but to having to buy off the shortfall. Whether there will be fines is a completely separate matter.

On the burden on transport, policy responsibility lies with the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport, not my Department. That said, however, the two initiatives on the transport area have been progressed by my Department. I refer to the initiatives on bio-fuel substitution and the blending of fuels and on electric vehicles, both of which have been pushed forward by my Department. What I have is overall responsibility for co-ordinating what takes place across all Departments. That is why we will be putting out for public consultation within the next few weeks the draft mitigation plan. It will examine the measures across all Departments to deal with energy reduction and the use of renewable heat. We will be announcing our draft proposals on renewable heat within the next couple of weeks. Therefore, there will be significant movement on many of these aspects over the coming weeks. People will get the opportunity to have an input. I look forward to the feedback of Deputy Timmy Dooley and to making progress thereafter.

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