Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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Question 235: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if he has increased the level of the levy on certain oil products in order to underpin Ireland's oil stockholding strategy as stated in the Energy White Paper. [4342/08]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin South, Green Party)
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In line with the commitment made in the Government White Paper, Delivering a Sustainable Energy Future for Ireland, to increase the National Oil Reserves Agency (NORA) levy on the consumption of oil products, I have made Regulations under the National Oil Reserves Agency Act, 2007, which provide for an increase in the rate of the levy to 1.00 cent per litre. The increase came into effect on 1 November 2007.

NORA has the statutory responsibility for ensuring that Ireland meets its EU and international obligations to maintain reserves of national oil stocks. It is estimated that the increase in the levy from 0.476 cent per litre to 1.00 cent per litre will generate an additional €40 million per annum. This additional revenue will enable NORA to work towards achieving the Government's objective, as set out in the White Paper, to maximise both Ireland's wholly-owned stocks of oil and the level of stocks held on the island of Ireland, subject to increased suitable storage availability and value for money considerations.

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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Question 236: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if, together with the Northern Irish authorities, he has set an all-island 2020 renewables target informed by the recent all-island grid study, as set out in the Energy White Paper; when it was done; the target for same. [4343/08]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin South, Green Party)
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The established minimum targets for 2020 for the renewable energy sector in Ireland are to increase the contribution from renewable energy sources to 10% of transport fuels, 12% of heating fuels and 33% of electricity consumed.

The All-Island Grid Study, which was commissioned jointly by my Department and the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Investment (Northern Ireland), concludes that the 33% target by 2020 for the electricity market in Ireland can be achieved and surpassed, and a target of 42% is attainable on an all-island basis in that timeframe, if certain conditions are met. There are no common targets, quantified on an all-island basis, published for the electricity market or for the wider renewables energy market at this time.