Denis Naughten (Longford-Roscommon, Fine Gael)
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Question 192: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the plans he has for carbon or green credits; the way in which he will allocate these credits; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31415/06]

Dick Roche (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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Carbon credits will be used by the government for the sole purpose of achieving compliance with Ireland's commitment under the Kyoto Protocol to limit its greenhouse gas emissions to 13% above 1990 levels.

Under the EU burden sharing arrangements Ireland will have the benefit of approximately 63 million allowances per annum each of which must be surrendered by the State in lieu of one tonne of CO2 emissions during the 2008-2012 period. This assigned amount represents our level of emissions in 1990 plus 13%. Current projections for the 2008-2012 period show that average annual emissions will be approximately 70 million tonnes in the absence of further measures to reduce them.

The gap of 7m tonnes between projected emissions and available allowances will be closed through:

measures to reduce emissions throughout the economy, in addition to those set out in the National Climate Change Strategy and those introduced subsequently;

emissions reductions, or the purchase of carbon allowances, by installations participating in the EU Emissions Trading Scheme; and

the purchase of additional allowances or credits.

The Government has stated its intention to purchase up to a maximum of 3.607 million allowances or credits per annum over the Kyoto Protocol commitment period 2008-2012. The National Treasury Management Agency will purchase additional allowances or credits on behalf of the State.