Willie Penrose (Westmeath, Labour)
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Question 178: To ask the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources if he will confirm the recent comment by a senior adviser from Sustainable Energy Ireland that Ireland's real target for renewable energy for electricity for 2020 is 6% rather than 33% as outlined in the recent Energy White Paper; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11331/07]

Noel Dempsey (Meath, Fianna Fail)
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The Government's White Paper on Energy Policy has set a target for Ireland of 33% of gross electricity consumption from renewable energy sources by 2020. That is the real target and that is the challenge to be met.

In 2005 the contribution by renewable energy sources to gross electricity consumption was nearly 7%. For 2006 it is estimated to have reached over 8% and will increase further in 2007. We are well on track to achieve 15% of gross electricity consumption from renewable energy sources by 2010 and 33% by 2020.