Denis Naughten (Longford-Roscommon, Fine Gael)
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Question 23: To ask the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources his policies in regard to energy conservation and efficiency with a view to achieving Kyoto targets; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14515/05]

Dinny McGinley (Donegal South West, Fine Gael)
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Question 75: To ask the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources the way in which he proposes to meet the guidelines set down in the Kyoto protocols with particular reference to reduction in emissions through conversion or use of alternative energy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14499/05]

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 152: To ask the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources the way in which he proposes to meet the guidelines set down in the Kyoto protocols with particular reference to reduction in emissions through conversion or use of alternative energy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14730/05]

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 164: To ask the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources his policies in regard to energy conservation and efficiency with a view to achieving Kyoto targets; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14745/05]

Noel Dempsey (Meath, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 23, 75, 152 and 164 together.

Government policy on the sustainable use of energy is directed through Sustainable Energy Ireland, SEI, which was established under the Sustainable Energy Act in 2002 as an independent non-commercial State body. SEI and its programmes are funded under the current national development plan and the economic and social infrastructure operational programme to end 2006.

SEI is responsible for focusing on the deployment of energy efficiency and conservation measures across all sectors of the economy. Its programmes include an extensive consumer information programme, a warmer homes scheme to address fuel poverty in low-income households, an industry programme to encourage better energy management and energy efficiency in the industrial sector, a public sector programme designed to produce model energy efficient buildings in the public sector and the house of tomorrow programme which provides grant aid for the building of groups of energy efficient homes.

Throughout the 1990s in Ireland, economic growth has been particularly strong, especially from 1993 onwards. This resulted in GDP in 2000 being almost double that of 1990. Analysis of statistics shows a relative decoupling of Ireland's total primary energy requirement, TPER, from economic growth, particularly since 1992. The most dramatic change in the period occurred in 2002, where GDP increased by 6.9% on the previous year, and primary energy increased only very slightly, 0.1%. In addition, energy-related carbon dioxide, CO2, emissions fell by 1.4%, showing the most notable decoupling in both energy and CO2 emissions from economic growth. This trend continued in 2003 with 3.7% increase in GDP and energy consumption remaining essentially constant and energy related CO2 emissions decreasing again by 2.1%. These successes are due to changes in the structure of the economy and to improvements in energy efficiency.

The development of alternative energy in Ireland has, to date, been supported under the alternative energy requirement, AER, programme. This programme is administered by my Department and was introduced to support an increased contribution from renewable energy technologies in electricity production in Ireland. In May 2004 a renewable energy development group was established to advise on future options on policies, targets, programmes and support measures to develop the increased use of renewable energy in the electricity market to 2010 and beyond. I have received updates on the work of the group and on 7 April last I was able to announce the outline of a future support mechanism. This revised system will move away from competitive tendering to a fixed price proposal. In addition, the support that was previously tied to contracts with the ESB will now be accepted from any licensed supplier. I also indicated that wind powered technology will remain the dominant technology in delivering this target.

The final report of the group, which will be published after the new support mechanism is finalised, will form the basis of my future policy decisions on the increased penetration of renewable energy technologies in the electricity market and will seek to ensure that developers can make a reasonable rate of return on renewable energy projects while ensuring that the interests of national competitiveness and the ultimate burden of cost to the final consumer are all fully taken into consideration.

In parallel with the work of the renewable energy development group, a number of other strategy and policy groups have examined alternative and sustainable energy sources. A bioenergy strategy group, BSG, considered the policy options and support mechanisms available to Government to stimulate increased use of biomass for energy conversion while a combined heat and power, CHP, policy group considered the most suitable and appropriate environments in which CHP can usefully be implemented in Ireland, so as to maximise energy efficiency. The work of both of these groups has inputted into the renewable energy development group.

My colleague, the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, has lead responsibility for Government policy on meeting Ireland's target under the Kyoto Protocol. I understand that work on a review of the national climate change strategy, taking account of developments since its publication at the end of 2000, is currently in progress in his Department and will be completed in the coming months.