Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
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Question 1233: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food the progress made on the programme for Government proposal to implement a comprehensive strategic plan to maximise the potential of all non-food crops to benefit the indigenous renewable energy sector here and reduce greenhouse gas emissions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47696/08]

Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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The primary responsibility for renewable energy rests with the Department of Communications Energy and Natural Resources (D/CENR) and my Department is participating in a new Renewable Energy Development Group established by D/CENR to consider the challenges and opportunities facing the Irish renewable energy sector. A sectoral sub-group on Bioenergy has been established to prepare a "Sustainable Bioenergy Supply Roadmap for Ireland". The Roadmap will identify policy options and propose programmes where necessary to achieve a sustainable supply of biomass. A scoping study is being commissioned to provide a detailed framework for the roadmap.

The work of this sub-group is being informed by the National Bioenergy Action Plan, which was published in 2006 to ensure delivery of a co-ordinated inter-Departmental action plan on bioenergy. The Plan sets out an integrated strategy to exploit Ireland's bioenergy resources including non- food crops across the agriculture, enterprise, transport, environment and energy sectors. My Department is implementing a number of Actions to incentivise cultivation of non-food crops. The measures include a National Energy Crop Premium worth €80/ha and a Bioenergy Scheme worth €1,450/ha to encourage farmers to grow willow and miscanthus. Areas planted with non-food crops also qualify for the Single farm payment. Some 5,000 hectares of energy crops were planted in 2008. My Department is also funding research projects that relate directly to non-food crops. The aim of this research is to identify and select plant varieties and crop production systems that are most suited to biofuel production in the Irish context.

Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
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Question 1234: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food the progress made on the programme for Government proposal to continue to support research in the biofuel and biomass areas in order that Ireland can respond to new opportunities quickly; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47697/08]

Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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The Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food recognises the crucial role that research can play in the development of biofuels and biomass in Ireland. In recent years, our support for research in this area has been greatly enhanced under the Department's Research Stimulus Fund Programme. Under Stimulus Calls in 2005, 2006 and 2007, 13 projects were awarded grant assistance of almost €6.4 million. The projects cover a broad spectrum of bioenergy themes and involve research into liquid biofuels from non-food crops, energy from on-farm anaerobic digestion, the potential of Irish grassland as a source of bioenergy and the feasibility of producing second-generation biofuel from lignocellulosic feedstocks. Projects supported under the Stimulus programme will complement the research work being done by Teagasc and others in this area.

Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
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Question 1235: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food the progress made on the programme for Government proposal to ensure the development of bio-energy will be of significant benefit to farmers and rural Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47698/08]

Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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The Government's Bioenergy Action Plan provides a platform for the development of bioenergy sources in Ireland. My Department implements the agriculture related actions in the Action Plan to increase the share of bioenergy derived from the agriculture and forestry related sectors. The measures include a National Energy Crop Premium worth €80 per hectare and an EU premium worth €45 per hectare to stimulate energy crop cultivation. A Bioenergy Scheme was also launched to provide establishment grants of €1,450 per hectare to farmers interested in planting willow and miscanthus. To support the wood energy market, grant aid of €1.2 million has been made available under the Wood Biomass Harvesting Scheme to aid the purchase of specialist wood energy equipment. Other supports for forestry include 100% grants and annual premiums to encourage increased afforestation. My Department also provided grant-aid of €4 million for ten on-farm anaerobic digestion projects in 2007 under the Scheme of Investment Aid for Demonstration On-Farm Waste Processing Facilities.

Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
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Question 1236: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food the progress made on the programme for Government proposal to further encourage the growing of willow, miscanthus and other crops for biomass; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47699/08]

Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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In February 2007, my Department launched a new Bioenergy Scheme providing establishment grants to farmers to grow miscanthus and willow. The grants are worth €1,450 per hectare. Some 1,800 hectares were grant aided in 2007 & 2008. The third phase was launched in December 2008 and will support the planting of a further 1,800 hectares in 2009. In addition to establishment grants, farmers who grow willow and miscanthus qualify for the €45/ha EU premium, the €80/ha National Energy Crop Premium and adjusted payments under the REPS and Disadvantaged Areas Scheme subject to some restrictions on the areas planted. Areas planted with willow and miscanthus also qualify for the Single Farm Payment. The Department has also made available Best Practice guidelines for growing willow and miscanthus under the Bioenergy Scheme. The guide provides advice to growers on planting and harvesting operations to maximise crop yield and improve the economic viability of the crop. Together with Teagasc and Sustainable Energy Ireland, the Department co-funded an educational DVD "Willow & Miscanthus — From Field To Furnace" to advise producers on the planting, crop management, harvesting and storage of these crops. Teagasc has also published a Farm Diversification Manual, which provides detailed technical advice to farmers on the cultivation of willow and miscanthus.