Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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Question 63: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if he is confident that Ireland will meet renewable and climate change targets as set down in the Government's energy plans; if he will report on those plans; the position in relation to same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23085/07]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin South, Green Party)
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I am confident we can meet the Renewable and Climate Change targets in the Government's White Paper on Energy Policy and the Programme for Government. The targets should not be seen as a limit on our ambitions but rather a baseline from which further progress can be achieved.

The Government has also set a national target of a 20% reduction in energy demand across the economy by 2020, including the electricity, transport and heating sectors. We have also set a specific national target of 33% improvement in the public sector in order to demonstrate its leadership and exemplar role.

I have launched the Energy Efficiency Action Plan for consultation. It demonstrates how Ireland proposes to achieve and exceed energy efficiency targets through a mixture of ongoing actions. Achievement of our targets will require integrated policy action across Departments and Agencies. Ultimately, success in this endeavour will help reduce our dependence on imported fossil fuels and increase Ireland's competitive position in the global economy, while contributing to a more sustainable future.

The REFIT support programme is capable of delivering and surpassing a target to increase the contribution of renewable powered electricity to 15% of consumption by 2010. It is estimated this will require installed capacity in the region of 1,650 megawatts (MW). There are in excess of 1,000 MW built and approximately 600 MW already accepted into Renewable Energy Feed In Tariff (REFIT) with planning permission and connections offers. When the Gate 2 connection process is completed in the coming months this latter figure is expected to more than double.

We have also set ambitious 2020 targets to further increase the contribution of renewable energy at that time as quantified in the following table.

The challenges inherent in achieving these increased targets will require sustained delivery by all concerned. We will be regularly reviewing and reporting on progress in light of technological and other developments.