Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 198: To ask the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources if his Department will consider offering grant support for growing energy crops and installing biomass boilers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8634/05]

Noel Dempsey (Meath, Fianna Fail)
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The issue of offering grant support for growing energy crops is not within the remit of my Department but would be a matter for the Department of Agriculture and Food in the first instance.

My Department, in association with Sustainable Energy Ireland, SEI, set up a bioenergy strategy group, BSG, in December 2003 to consider the policy options and support mechanisms available to Government to stimulate increased use of biomass for energy conversion and to make specific recommendations for action to increase the penetration of biomass energy in Ireland. The issue of biomass boilers was considered by the group as part of its deliberations. In tandem with this development, my Department launched a consultation process on future development of renewable energy generally in Ireland. Following this consultation process and to ensure future development of our renewable resources, including biomass resources, the renewable energy development group was established on 6 May of last year. The BSG is currently inputting into the renewable energy development group, which is at the end of its current work phase.

Under the renewable energy research, development and demonstration programme, SEI offers grant support for biomass boiler demonstration plants. SEI has already supported two medium scale biomass boilers, totalling €111,000 in grant aid, producing 250 kW of heat. Two further boiler projects are currently under evaluation by SEI. Under SEI's house of tomorrow research, development and demonstration programme, €940,000 has been provided in support for domestic wood pellet boilers as primary heating in up to 83 dwellings, which account for a total estimated heat output of approximately 900 kW. The funding for these projects is not exclusively provided for biomass boilers but also includes support for a wide range of features and specifications, which aim to reduce energy demand and related CO2 emissions in Irish housing.