Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 418: To ask the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources his views on whether Ireland can meet its target, as set out under EU law, to have 13.2% of its electricity consumption needs supplied by renewable energy sources by 2012; the steps being undertaken to ensure that this target will be met; the percentage of electricity needs currently serviced by renewable energy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10715/05]

Noel Dempsey (Meath, Fianna Fail)
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Directive 2001/77/EC on the promotion of renewable energy sources in the internal electricity market addresses an obligation to Ireland to increase the consumption of electricity from renewable energy sources to 13.2% of total electricity consumption by 2010.

This target has been incorporated into the alternative energy requirement, AER, programme administered by my Department to encourage the construction of new renewable energy-based electricity generating stations. I am confident that a combination of projects already built, projects which will be built under the current rounds of AER support and a new support programme offering fixed-price support contracts which I have indicated I will launch shortly will deliver, if not exceed, the EU target.

The contribution of renewable energy to gross electricity consumption in 2003, the latest year for which figures are available, was 4.4%, a drop of one percentage point on 2002, due to lower rainfall levels affecting hydro production. I am satisfied recent decisions by the CER restoring connection offers for new renewable energy projects will see accelerated developments of new projects in the short term.