Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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Question 49: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food her views on whether it is appropriate to come out in support of a bio-fuel refinery in County Wexford in advance of an application for planning permission; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7100/08]

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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The agri-food sector is a source of many of the raw materials for the production of biofuels. To encourage the cultivation of crops for energy purposes I have introduced a number of incentives including a new National Energy Crop Premium of €80 per hectare, which supplements the EU Premium available under the EU Energy Crops. I also launched a new Bio-energy Scheme in February 2007 to provide establishment grants to farmers of up to €1,450 per hectare to grow willow and miscanthus as a renewable source of energy. I have also allocated increased funding for research into biofuels and non-food crops under the Department's Research Stimulus Fund Programme. Under the 2007 Call for Proposals, I awarded some €5.3 million over the next four years to seven research projects on the suitability of Irish grassland for biofuel production, anaerobic digestion, second-generation technologies and energy crop production.

I believe Irish farmers could benefit from an increased demand for biofuel feedstocks. For this reason and against the background of securing energy supplies and combating greenhouse gas emissions I support the development of an indigenous biofuel sector in Ireland based on raw materials, which have been produced and processed locally. The agriculture sector in Ireland has the interest and potential to supply feedstocks and I have met with a number of operators interested in building biofuel facilities in Ireland based on locally grown feedstocks. In this context, at their request, I met recently with the promoters of a proposed bio-refinery project in the South East. The issue of planning permission for this or any other biofuel facility is a matter for the relevant local authority.