Tom Fleming (Kerry South, Independent)
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88. To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if he will outline his plan regarding the development of renewable energy scheduled year on year over the next 10 years in terms of renewable energy output meeting the energy needs of this country. [20441/13]

Pat Rabbitte (Dublin South West, Labour)
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Development in the renewable energy sector in Ireland is underpinned by a clear policy framework. Under the renewable energy directive, Ireland is required to increase renewable energy from 3.1% in 2005 to 16% in 2020, with a minimum target of 10% in the transport sector. Energy is consumed across the transport, heating and electricity sectors. Our intention is to reach our overall target through 40% renewable electricity, 12% renewable heating and 10% renewable transport.

Under the directive, Ireland was required to set out in a national renewable energy action plan the trajectory towards meeting its legally binding target. The action plan and first progress report on the plan, which are available on my Department's website, show the sectoral and technology breakdown that we anticipate in the achievement of our target. By the end of 2011, we had reached 6.4% of overall energy consumption from renewable sources and the trajectory set out in the action plan assumes we will achieve the 16% target incrementally at approximately 1% per annum. It will be achieved primarily through the support of renewable electricity from wind, hydro and biomass by way of feed-in tariffs and mandating the use of bio-fuels through the bio-fuel obligation scheme. My Department's Strategy for Renewable Energy 2012 to 2020 sets out the key strategic goals for the various renewable energy sectors.

In terms of the 40% renewable electricity to be achieved by 2020, the ability to meet this target is largely determined by the grid connection offers to renewable generators. Supervision of the grid connection process is vested in the Commission for Energy Regulation. The commission's Gate 3 direction to system operators published in December 2008 set out the list of projects to receive grid connection offers. Gate 3 was designed to ensure the 40% target for renewable electricity by 2020 could be achieved. This was based on an assumption that 5,800 MW of renewable generation would be required. Gate 3 followed Gates 1 and 2 and provided for additional grid connection offers of up to almost 4,000 MW.

The recent conclusion of the single electricity market consultations on dispatch and scheduling affords the opportunity to move on with the wind farm developments we require. EirGrid is now in a position to commence issuing constraint reports in respect of Gate 3. This will allow developers to make decisions on their Gate 3 offers. Recent changes I announced in the REFIT 1 and REFIT 2 schemes will further facilitate this development.

As regards the structure, level and nature of targets, including those on renewable energy, the post-2020 approach has not yet been agreed. The European Commission last month published a consultation on its Green Paper, A 2030 Framework for Climate and Energy Policies, seeking views on a range of matters, including targets for designing an energy and climate framework for 2030.

Tom Fleming (Kerry South, Independent)
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We are over-reliant on imports of coal, oil and gas in the context of meeting our energy needs. We import some 90% of these fuels at present. We will be obliged to accelerate our efforts in respect of the delivery of renewable energy. The UK's reserves of gas almost ran out last month and Ireland is very reliant on the interconnector with Scotland for its gas. If there was a breakdown in supply, then we would have great difficulty meeting our gas needs. Will the Minister use his good offices to promote and, if possible, see to it that approval is forthcoming in respect of the LNG project at Tarbert? It appears that gas from the Corrib will not be brought onshore until 2015. As a result, there is a need to expedite matters in respect of the project at Tarbert. As the Minister is well aware, a huge number of jobs are at stake. Ireland has probably the greatest potential among the member states of the European Union in respect of developing sources of renewable energy. However, we are falling far behind other countries in our efforts. Outside of the motor industry, in Germany more jobs have been created in the renewable energy sector than in any other. This is in a country which is home to car manufacturers such as Volkswagen, Mercedes, Porsche, etc. Ireland has huge potential in the area of renewable energy.

Pat Rabbitte (Dublin South West, Labour)
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Deputy Fleming is right about this country being overly reliant on imports of fossil fuels. As an island and as the most isolated of the 27 EU member states, Ireland is vulnerable as long as 100% of its oil and 90% of its gas must be imported. Of course, gas is used to a large degree in the generation of electricity. It is not something which keeps the citizens of Ireland awake at night but security of supply is a real issue and it must be afforded a very high level of precedence among the policy objectives of the government of the day. Earlier, I informed Deputy Moynihan of my hope that the new public service broadcasting charge might be in place before the end of 2014 and I would like to inform Deputy Fleming of my hope that gas from the Corrib will be coming ashore at the same time. I am sure Deputy Fleming would get good odds from Paddy Power on which of my hopes might prove to be wrong in this regard. The Corrib field would supply 60% of our needs at peak. That fact is not insignificant.

Deputy Fleming also inquired about the LNG project. The latter has as much support from the Government as can be given to it. The project is being navigated through the regulatory process and the Deputy may well be aware that it has recently been the subject of a court case. A decision in this regard has not yet been handed down by the court but I expect that it will be forthcoming before the next occasion on which I take Question Time.

Tom Fleming (Kerry South, Independent)
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I will revert to the issue of the harnessing of natural elements, particularly those on the Atlantic, and the development of onshore turbines, but what of offshore turbines and wave energy? I welcome the fact that one of our 14 science research programmes is on renewable energy. It is a good initiative. The midlands scheme is an example and I hope that a good decision is arrived at in that respect. Planning processes need to be expedited in all counties. Schemes should be compatible with residents' wishes and be run in a good, organised manner that does not cause people interference. I am sure that this can be achieved. Thanks to modern mechanisms, noise levels can be kept low.

Michael Kitt (Galway East, Fianna Fail)
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I thank the Deputy, but I must call the Minister.

Tom Fleming (Kerry South, Independent)
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The Minister is on the right route and we will push the campaign ahead.

Pat Rabbitte (Dublin South West, Labour)
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The Deputy is right, in that we are uniquely endowed in terms of our renewable energy prospects. We have propitious wind resources, for example. The Deputy referred to the onshore performance in that regard. Wave and tidal energy is still at research stage. It could be an important element for Ireland down the line.

The extent to which renewables can be integrated into the system is an issue. As it happens, I am meeting EirGrid, the ESB and so on today to discuss our targets and, following the single electricity market, SEM, decision, what progress we can expect to make in the next three to four years. However, the amount of renewable energy that can be integrated into the system is limited. Given our capacity to generate more than our domestic need, we could develop an export trade if there was a market. We believe there is one on the neighbouring island. Therefore, if developers of scale come forward with projects, we will have the capacity to develop an export trade in the sector to which the Deputy referred.