David Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael)
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Question 100: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if his Department has conducted or is involved in research into growing sugar beet for the production of ethanol; if so, the details of same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19586/08]

Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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My Department is committed to supporting research in non-food land uses. To date, it has awarded in excess of €6 million in funding for biofuel research projects under the Department's Research Stimulus Fund Programme arising from Calls for Proposals issued in 2005, 2006 and 2007. The 2005 Research Stimulus Fund Programme funded a project entitled 'Development of a strategy (E-supply) for bioethanol production to support the evolution of a non-food crops sector for Irish agriculture'. Part of this project quantified existing feedstocks and potential availability for conversion to bioethanol, including sugar beet. It also examined bioethanol production costs. My Department is closely monitoring the progress of this research project which is due for completion at the end of this year.

The 2007 Call for Proposals under the Research Stimulus Fund Programme invited proposals in the Agri-Energy area to identify and develop within the agriculture sector, renewable energy sources with feasible exploitation potential. No projects on sugar beet were submitted. My Department is currently in discussions with other stakeholder Departments on the priority topics for 2009. Research into non-food land uses will continue to be a priority.