Kathleen Lynch (Cork North Central, Labour)
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Question 135: To ask the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources the action he has taken in response to complaints from householders and businesses in relation to the adoption of wood pellet boilers and biomass heating technology whereby installation and supply problems with this renewable energy source make its current adoption impossible; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38852/06]

Noel Dempsey (Meath, Fianna Fail)
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There are no market problems as implied by the Deputy's question and the deployment of the technologies concerned is continuing as normal.

The Greener Homes Scheme, which I launched in March, provides grant aid for domestic renewable heat technologies. Approximately 44% of the applications received to date relate to wood pellet boilers or stoves.

The BioHeat Programme, which I launched in June, aims to increase the deployment of biomass heating systems fuelled by wood chips and wood pellets in large buildings and small industrial sites in Ireland. In doing this the programme also aims to achieve carbon emission savings and fossil fuel displacement, increase customer awareness and confidence in heating from biomass and develop the capability of the Irish wood fuel supply chain. A total of 37 systems have been approved under this programme with ten installed to date.

Sustainable Energy Ireland (SEI) has endeavoured to ensure that all prospective purchasers have sufficient objective information that will inform their choice. This includes general guidance on technology options as well as more specific information on fuel purchase and storage considerations. In the case of the Greener Homes Scheme, because of the newness of the technology to the Irish market, this takes the form of an easy to read step by step Buyer's Guide.

In response to a customer requirement to identify the closest supplier options for them SEI has developed a list of Known Wood Fuel Suppliers identifying location and supply options. This list contains 53 suppliers countrywide the majority of which supply pellets in bagged form.