Willie Penrose (Longford-Westmeath, Labour)
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Question 134: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources his views on the fact that only €13.2 million of the €150 million provided in the national development plan for energy research was allocated in budget 2008; his further views on whether this is sufficient; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10589/08]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin South, Green Party)
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The National Development Plan makes provision for an envelope of €149m in the Energy Research sub-programme over the period 2007-2013. This subprogramme includes energy research capacity building and applied sustainable energy research, development and demonstration projects including the fields of ocean energy and the building environment. It will also address further priorities which will arise from the Energy Research Strategy. This Strategy is due to be finalised at the end of March. Actual annual allocations in respect of Energy Research, as with any other spending programme, are determined in the Annual Estimates process in the normal way.

The conduct of energy research, like all research, essentially takes place over the long-term. Accordingly, associated funding is usually provided for in a multi-annual context. For instance, in the area of energy research capacity building, the first major tranche of the total spend of c. €20m on the Charles Parsons Awards was paid out in 2006. The second and third major elements of expenditure on the awards are due in 2010 and 2013 respectively, subject to the contractual arrangements in place being fully and satisfactorily met. In much the same way, the investment of €26m in Ocean Energy which I recently announced is due to be spent in 2008, 2009 and 2010.

The capacity building element of energy research will be augmented by the announced expansion of the remit of Science Foundation Ireland (SFI) to include energy, as provided for in the Programme for Government. This will bring the SFI's considerable experience and track record in building world class research teams and developing Strategic Research Clusters and Centres to capacity building in the energy area.

Ciarán Lynch (Cork South Central, Labour)
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Question 135: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the position of Ireland in relation to each one of the targets on energy commitments (details supplied); the targets set out for the year 2008; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10577/08]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin South, Green Party)
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The Government has set targets for the development of renewable energy resources which mirror or exceed existing targets set by the EU. In the electricity market we will increase the contribution by renewable energy sources to at least 15% by 2010 and 33% by 2020 of electricity consumed and work towards the higher level of renewables indicated as being possible in our all island grid study. Between 2003 and 2006 the contribution doubled from 4.3% to 8.6% and is expected to have increased to 10% when data is available for 2007.

In Biofuels for transport we have committed to sustainable delivery of a target of 5.75% by 2010 and to a further target of 10% by 2020. Delivery of these targets will be underpinned by the Biofuels Obligation which will be introduced in 2009. In the heat sector, targets of 5% and 12% market penetration by 2010 and 2020 respectively are being delivered through the Greener Homes, ReHeat and Combined Heat and Power grants programmes, as well as measures put in place by my colleague the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food to encourage the growing and processing of energy crops.