Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
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Question 523: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food his proposals to further develop and protect the bio-energy sector here in view of the impact which reduced funding to Teagasc will have on its research in this area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36807/09]

Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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Teagasc receives substantial Exchequer resources each year to enable it to provide research and other services to the agriculture sector. It is a matter for Teagasc and its Board to prioritise its activities and allocate resources in the delivery of agricultural research and other services having regard to the requirements of the Act establishing Teagasc and in line with Government policy.

Teagasc has an extensive Agriculture Research Programme in place covering a broad spectrum of agriculture activities. The Teagasc sub-programme on energy crops and bio-processing is focused on the use of renewable biomass as fuel for engines and boilers, the development of efficient production systems for biomass feedstock and the identification of new non-food market opportunities for Irish grassland. Research in these areas is funded primarily through the Research Stimulus Fund Programme operated by the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food. Under Stimulus Calls in 2005, 2006 and 2007, Teagasc was allocated funding to undertake 10 research projects in the bioenergy area in collaboration with other research institutes.

Further development of the bioenergy sector in Ireland is a matter in the first instance for the Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources who have overall responsibility for energy policy in Ireland. In 2006, a Ministerial Bioenergy Taskforce was established, which oversaw the delivery of a National Bioenergy Action Plan to increase the use of bioenergy in the heat, electricity and transport markets to 2020. The Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food was represented on this Taskforce and is implementing a number of measures in the Action Plan to increase the share of bioenergy derived from the Agriculture and forestry sectors.