Joe Higgins (Dublin West, Socialist Party)
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Question 1208: To ask the Minister for Agriculture and Food if she will resist attempts to dismantle the Mallow sugar factory and what remains of the Carlow sugar factory and instead investigate the potential for the future re-structured use of these factories, for example in bio-fuel production. [29728/06]

Joe Higgins (Dublin West, Socialist Party)
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Question 1209: To ask the Minister for Agriculture and Food if she will study the EC Council Sugar Regulations published in January 2006 which provide for aiding and assisting Member States in transitional measures, diversification and re-structuring. [29729/06]

Joe Higgins (Dublin West, Socialist Party)
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Question 1210: To ask the Minister for Agriculture and Food if her attention has been drawn to the fact that Mr. Klaus Dieter Borchardt, head of the EU Sugar Reform section, is on record as favouring the conversion of Ireland's former sugar factories for ethanol production. [29730/06]

Joe Higgins (Dublin West, Socialist Party)
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Question 1211: To ask the Minister for Agriculture and Food if she will act on the recommendations of the June 2006 Energy Report by the Parliamentary Joint Committee on Communications, Marine and Natural Resources, which calls for a study into providing State assistance for the conversion of the Mallow sugar factory for bio-ethanol production. [29731/06]

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 1208 to 1211, inclusive, together.

The Report of the Joint Committee on Communications, Marine and Natural Resources made a number of recommendations under the theme of 'Sustainable Energy Policy' to support the production of biofuels in Ireland. This included a recommendation that the possibility of providing state assistance to encourage the conversion of the Mallow sugar factory to bioenthanol production should be investigated.

The Council Regulations mentioned by the Deputy give effect to the reform of the EU sugar regime which was agreed by the Council of Agriculture Ministers in November 2005 after protracted and difficult negotiations. One of the regulations, Council Regulation (EC) No 320/2006, governs the EU restructuring scheme for the sugar industry. Restructuring, in this context, refers to the abandonment of sugar quota production and the allocation of restructuring aid to the affected processors, growers and machinery contractors. The maximum rate of restructuring aid is available where a sugar quota is renounced and the redundant sugar plant is fully dismantled. However, the regulation also provides an option to apply for a reduced rate of aid (75%) where a sugar plant is to be partially dismantled and used for non-food purposes, such as bioethanol production. The availability of this option reflects the fact that the EU Commission is favourably disposed towards the conversion of former sugar plants for biofuel production. However, a decision on which option to pursue is entirely a matter for the sugar processor concerned. Greencore has already submitted an aid application which involves full dismantling of the Mallow plant. The Carlow plant, which closed early in 2005, is not covered by the restructuring scheme.