Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 275: To ask the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources the amount of electricity generated through private and renewable sources; the instructions he has given to the regulator to increase such production; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28148/05]

Noel Dempsey (Meath, Fianna Fail)
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Ireland currently has 675 MW of renewable capacity connected with a further 175 MW under active construction. This consists of 400 MW of wind and 240 MW of hydro with the balance made up of different biomass technologies. Further development will also take place from the last two rounds of competitive tendering, the AER V and AER VI competitions.

Ireland has a renewable electricity target of 13.2% of electricity consumption to be sourced from renewable technologies by 2010. To meet this target, we need in the region of 1,450 MW of renewable capacity connected. This means some 400 MW of new renewable capacity must be constructed. Accordingly, I recently announced a new fixed feed-in tariff support programme for new renewable energy electricity generating plant. This programme will support 400 MW and the figure will be increased to accommodate any slippage rates from previous competitions.

In July, my Northern counterpart, Ms Angela Smith, and I published a preliminary consultation paper on an all-island vision for renewable energy to the year 2020 and beyond. The consultation period recently ended and the response has been encouraging. The aim is to develop a long-term strategy for renewable energy on the island in its entirety.

The Commission for Energy Regulation is an independent body under paragraph 9 in the Schedule to the Electricity Regulation Act 1999. I have no statutory power to issue instructions of the type to which the Deputy refers.