Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 352: To ask the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources his preferred options in regard to the development of renewable fuels; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7060/06]

Noel Dempsey (Meath, Fianna Fail)
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Within the electricity market the current target is to more than double the contribution from renewable energy sources to total electricity production from 5% to 13% by 2010. Targets beyond 2010 will be settled within the context of an all-island vision for 2020 and beyond to develop a long-term strategy for renewable energy on the island as a whole.

I am committed to the development and promotion of a biofuels market in the transport fuel sector and the development of alternative fuels which can contribute to emissions reductions and overall security of supply. My Department has set a target of 2% market penetration of biofuels by 2008, which will be achieved through a new programme of excise relief to be rolled out from this year to 2010, along with the provision of funding towards the capital cost of developing biofuels processing facilities.