Jack Wall (Kildare South, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 130: To ask the Minister for Agriculture and Food the areas of research that have been identified by her Department into bio-fuels; the action which has been taken to ensure research in these areas is or will be carried out; when research into these areas will be carried out; the amount which has been allocated by her Department for each of these areas of research; the assistance she will offer the one power plant and the one cement company here which are investigating the feasibility of utilising MBM to generate fuel; the ways in which her Department are facilitating the use of tallow in thermal boilers in rendering plants as bio-fuel; when her Department will introduce procedures for the conversion of tallow into biodiesel; the way in which her Department will promote the use of anaerobic digestion and fluidised bed combustion; and when it is planned to begin such promotion. [12224/06]

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

My Department's research stimulus fund programme was broadened last year to incorporate biofuels research. Projects supported under this programme will complement the research work being done by Teagasc and others in the biofuels area.

Under the 2005 research stimulus fund programme, 12 research projects were recently awarded grant assistance totalling €4.5 million. These research projects cover a broad range of areas including agri-environment, non-food crops and agrifood economics and will involve inter-institutional collaboration. Three of the projects selected for funding relate to research projects involving biofuels and energy crops and received total grant assistance of some €0.9 million. In view of the importance of research in this area, the new round of research proposals for funding under the 2006 research stimulus fund programme, which I recently announced and advertised in the national press, also includes a research theme in that area covering land use for bio-energy purposes. The allocation made to this new round, which also includes research theme areas on agri-environment, animal and plant bioscience and agri economy and policy, amounts to some €4 million in 2006.

In addition to research on biofuels under the stimulus fund, my Department is currently seeking approval in regard to two bio-energy initiatives. The first of these is the short-rotation willow scheme which would provide assistance towards the establishment of willow as an energy crop. The second is the biomass harvesting machinery initiative which would provide grant-aid towards the purchase of specialised equipment. My Department is currently funding a wood energy project in County Clare which is aimed at promoting the development of the wood energy market through the creation of a wood chip supply chain. This is a multi-annual project whose funding in 2005 amounted to €50,000. A similar level of funding is envisaged for 2006.

My Department is in discussions with the power plant and the cement company mentioned by the Deputy on the usage of MBM as a fuel in their operations and will continue to offer advice on the issue. With regard to the use of tallow in thermal boilers in rendering plants as bio-fuel, the relevant EU regulation was amended in December last to allow for this. Draft conditions for the use of tallow in thermal boilers have been discussed with the industry and these will be finalised shortly. Concerning the conversion of tallow into bio-diesel, the EU regulation mentioned above contains amendments which will facilitate the introduction of this process. My Department is also in consultation with the industry on the conditions for conversion of tallow into bio-diesel.

As part of the arrangements to assist farmers meet the additional requirements of the nitrates directive, I have announced my intention to introduce a scheme to support the demonstration of new technologies in reducing the volume of livestock manures or their nutrient content. Under the proposed scheme, financial support will be provided for up to ten projects throughout the State for the installation of such systems, including fluidised bed combustion or treatment plants comprising of anaerobic-aerobic digestion systems.

The maximum eligible investment ceiling per project will be €1 million and the total State contribution, at a grant-rate of 40%, will, therefore, be up to €4 million. The scheme will be introduced as soon as the required EU approval has been received. My Department recently finalised the conditions for approval and operation of composting and biogas plants treating animal by-products in Ireland. An information seminar was held in February 2006 to which all stakeholders were invited. Copies of the finalised conditions were distributed to all interested parties.