Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 147: To ask the Minister for Finance the tax concessions he proposes to offer to producers of biofuels; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18696/05]

Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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Section 50 of the Finance Act 2004 provided for the introduction of a scheme for excise tax relief for biofuels. The purpose of the provision was to allow qualified and conditional relief from excise of biofuel used in approved pilot projects for either the production of biofuel or the testing of the technical viability of biofuel for use as a motor fuel.

It was necessary to obtain approval from the EU Commission as the proposed scheme represented a state aid. Approval was granted in March 2005 and the scheme was subsequently advertised by the Department of Communications, Marine and Natural Resources. It is currently progressing applications and it is envisaged that the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources will shortly make recommendations to me for excise relief for biofuel schemes.