Pat Breen (Clare, Fine Gael)
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Question 157: To ask the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources his plans to surpass Kyoto and subsequent EU emission guidelines by way of home produced alternative energy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11415/07]

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 364: To ask the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources his plans to surpass Kyoto and subsequent EU emission guidelines by way of home produced alternative energy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11540/07]

Noel Dempsey (Meath, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Question Nos. 157 and 364 together.

I recently published the National Bioenergy Action Plan which is an important milestone in the Government's ambitious and comprehensive energy policy. The Plan sets out a cohesive strategy for the development and deployment of indigenous bioenergy resources, in the electricity, heating and transport sectors. The Plan will be underpinned by existing support programmes as well as additional support necessary to realise ambitious targets up to 2020 and will fully reflect EU developments.

The National Bioenergy Action Plan, with its wide ranging and targeted action points, is only one component of our rapidly evolving energy and climate change policies. The publication of the White Paper on Energy provides a comprehensive roadmap for the development of the entire energy sector. That policy addresses the key challenges of climate change, competitiveness and security of energy supply with a view to providing a long-term vision for alternative energy development. The White Paper on Energy Policy supports the targets and strategic approach in the Bio Energy Action Plan with the objective of delivering a fully integrated approach to the sustainable use of bioenergy resources.

The Government's commitment to a cleaner, greener environment is strongly reflected in the pace of our renewable energy policy development. Our targets are ambitious but achievable and our policies and programmes to meet those goals are already firmly established.

In the last two years alone, the Government has introduced a range of renewable energy support programmes valued at over €400m. The programmes are designed to be accessible to all energy users, from householders, to community and voluntary groups, the commercial and industrial sector and renewable electricity producers. They are backed up by strong investment in energy research and development, as well as the €10m "Power of One" energy efficiency campaign.

I have increased the EU target for renewable energy sourced electricity from 13.2% to a national target of 15%, which approximates to 1650MW, by 2010. The current installed capacity is over a Gigawatt. This consists of approximately 774MW of wind powered plant, 236MW of hydro powered plant with the balance (c. 34MW) made up of different biomass technologies. In the White Paper the 15% target has been further increased to 33% of gross electricity consumption from renewable energy sources by 2020.