Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 162: To ask the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources if he sought or received information from the regulator with a view to identification of the future role of alternative fuels; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28024/05]

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 274: To ask the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources if he sought or received information from the regulator with a view to identification of the future role of alternative fuels; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28147/05]

Noel Dempsey (Meath, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 162 and 274 together.

Within the electricity market a target is established to increase the amount of electricity consumed from renewable energy sources to 13.2% by 2010 as an alternative to existing fossil and carbon fuel sources. This is regarded as a challenging target to achieve. The new fixed price feed-in tariff support programme, recently announced, will stimulate market interest. The work-programme of the renewable energy development group has progressed many of the technical and administrative challenges which could have impeded us delivering the target.

The Commission for Energy Regulation is an active participant in the work of the group. In addition to this work within the group, the commission is also an active participant in the north-south all-island market strategy steering group and participates actively in the cross-Border programme to deliver an all-island vision for renewable energy to the year 2020 as part of a long term strategy for renewable energy on the island as a whole.