Cecilia Keaveney (Donegal North East, Fianna Fail)
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Question 540: To ask the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources if he intends to introduce grant aid towards wood pellet burners; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24992/05]

Noel Dempsey (Meath, Fianna Fail)
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In December 2003, my Department established a bio-energy strategy group to make recommendations on policy options for the development of bio-energy in Ireland. The group comprised representatives of my Department, Sustainable Energy Ireland, the Department of Agriculture and Food, the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, COFORD, Teagasc and industry representatives. In parallel with this development, my Department launched a consultation process on options for renewable energy support and established a renewable energy development group, REDG. The findings of the bio-energy strategy group are being considered by the REDG in the context of overall policy recommendations.

Sustainable Energy Ireland, SEI, has supported a number of biomass facilities to date and the biomass sector has attracted the largest amount of support under SEI's renewable energy research, development and demonstration. Among the specific projects addressed to date are as follows: funding of €732,000 towards a combined heat and power system, using sawmill residues at Grainger sawmill in Cork — the plant is designed to generate both 1.83 MW electrical energy and 3.5 MW of thermal energy in a single process; funding of €91,626 towards a 100 kW capacity wood chip-wood pellet biomass boiler at the State forestry company Coillte's headquarters - Coillte recently relocated its corporate headquarters to a 100% sustainable, timber-constructed building and the cost and installation of the boiler, including an automatic fuel supply auger, amounted to €27,500. The remaining support from SEI is provided for the solar heating system, monitoring programme and the energy centre. The solar and wood heating systems are located in a purpose-built energy centre that is open to the public. Funding of €40,000 was provided towards the provision of a 500 kW wood boiler and solar panels at Inchadoney Lodge and Spa hotel in Clonakilty, County Cork. Funding of €18,000 was provided towards the provision of a 100 kW wood chip boiler at Camphill community, Jerpoint, County Kilkenny.

In addition to the RERD&D programme, SEI's House of Tomorrow Programme has committed over €7.5 million in funding covering 39 projects and a total of 1,818 housing units. The scheme encourages housing developers to incorporate design and technology packages for high standard energy and CO2 performance. The range of technologies included in these packages included wood pellet boilers that have been installed in 93 homes. The SEI renewable energy information office is also providing a free information service on wood heating. A free video-DVD on bioenergy, including wood heating and procurement guidelines for installers and others, is being made available as part of this initiative. SEI is also developing training courses for renewable energy installers, as part of a joint initiative with Action Renewables in Northern Ireland. The first of these courses, which will include training for the installation of biomass boilers, is scheduled to be available in 2006.