Breeda Moynihan-Cronin (Kerry South, Labour)
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Question 184: To ask the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources the reason the Government failed to propose an overall renewable energy target for 2020 and beyond in Delivering a Sustainable Energy Future for Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11335/07]

Noel Dempsey (Meath, Fianna Fail)
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The White Paper "Delivering a Sustainable Energy Future for Ireland" establishes ambitious targets for renewable energy in each of the three energy sectors — electricity, heat and transport. The targets are as follows: Renewable energy sources will provide 33% of our electricity used by 2020; Biofuels will provide at least 10% of transport energy use by 2020; Further actions in the transport sector will be set out in the Sustainable Transport Strategy later this year.

Renewable heat will comprise 12% of heating requirements by 2020. Heads of Government agreed at the European Council to set binding EU target of 20% for renewable energy in the total energy mix. In that context Ireland and other Member States will discuss and agree with the Commission respective shares towards that overall EU contribution.