John Deasy (Waterford, Fine Gael)
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Question 291: To ask the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources when he intends implementing the renewable energy grants schemes announced by the Minister for Finance in budget 2006 on 7 December 2005; if the proposed scheme will include the installation of geothermal heat pumps and solar heating systems in individual homes; if the installation of such systems in individual houses currently being planned or being built will be eligible for grant aid under the proposed scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9323/06]

Noel Dempsey (Meath, Fianna Fail)
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The multi-annual financial package for renewables announced in budget 2006 includes a grant aid package for the domestic sector, which will provide for individual grants to install renewable energy technologies including solar panels, geothermal heat pumps and wood pellet boilers. My Department, in conjunction with Sustainable Energy Ireland, SEI, is developing the necessary detailed measures to roll out the new programme, which will be announced shortly. Once the scheme has been launched, applicants will be required to apply for, and receive, approval before any materials are purchased or any works are commenced.

Jackie Healy-Rae (Kerry South, Independent)
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Question 292: To ask the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources if the windmills that have been built and are planned to be built overproduce electricity and are not used by the national grid, if there is a facility in place in order to sell the extra electricity produced to Europe; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9351/06]

Noel Dempsey (Meath, Fianna Fail)
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The renewables directive, Directive 2001/77/EC, obliges Ireland to develop and implement a programme capable of increasing the amount of electricity from renewable energy sources to 13.2% of total consumption by 2010. The target of 13.2% approximates to 1,450 MW of installed generating capacity to be operational to the electricity network by 2010. Ireland has approximately 765 MW of renewable capacity connected. This consists of approximately 495 MW of wind powered plant, 240 MW of hydro-powered plant with the balance of approximately 30 MW made up of different biomass technologies.

The additional new capacity required to achieve the 1,450 MW target will be delivered by projects under the previous AER V and AER VI competitions and the new renewable energy feed in tariff REFIT programme. Wind energy will be the dominant technology in achieving the target. As an island nation the facility to export electricity directly to Europe is not in place. However, the Government is fully committed to the development of east-west electricity interconnection as a matter of priority. The Commission for Energy Regulation has been engaged in a process of rigorous exploration of the options for such development and I expect to receive advice from the Commission on next steps shortly.