Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 264: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food the extent to which he has had discussions with his EU colleagues in the matter of bio-energy crops; the extent to which such discussions are expected to impact positively on climate change issues; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20704/09]

Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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There has been contact with the European Commission at Ministerial and official level in relation to support for energy crop cultivation. Under the Common Agriculture Policy (CAP), farmers who cultivate energy crops can benefit from the Single Farm Payment and the EU Energy Crops Scheme, which pays farmers a premium worth €45 per hectare. My Department has supported participation in the EU Energy Crops Scheme by offering farmers an additional €80 per hectare national premium to grow energy crops. We have also supported EU efforts to increase production of biomass crops following the decision in 2007 to recognize support for willow and miscanthus establishment within the framework of the Single Payment regime. My Department subsequently introduced a Bioenergy Scheme in 2007 to provide farmers with grants of €1,450 per hectare to establish these crops. In the recent Health Check review of the CAP, we supported the Commission proposal to recognize support for biomass crop production under the Rural Development pillar.

Apart from these support measures, EU and National policy targets to increase the use of renewable energy and tackle climate change can help to stimulate the energy crops sector. For example, the EU target of 10% penetration of renewable energy in transport fuel by 2020 should encourage demand for biofuel feedstocks produced from energy crops. Efforts to reduce greenhouse gases in the agriculture sector can also provide a stimulus. Energy crops can make a positive contribution to greenhouse gas abatement by removing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, similar to afforestation. They also displace the use of fossil fuels in heat, power and transport markets. My Department is supporting research into energy crops under the Research Stimulus Fund to assess the contribution of energy crops to greenhouse gas abatement. A vibrant energy crops industry in Ireland could provide farmers with additional income streams and complement broader energy supply and climate change reduction policies. My Department will continue to work closely with industry stakeholders to ensure the development of the energy crops sector.