Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 276: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the extent to which he has compared the various forms of home heating solid fuels in terms of efficiency, calorific value and carbon emissions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43684/09]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin South, Green Party)
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The Government is committed to significant development of renewable fuels in the heating sector with consequent benefits in terms of emissions and environmental improvement. The carbon and calorific characteristics of traditional fuels are such that renewable alternatives are the way forward.

The Government has set a target for Renewable Heating of 12% by 2020. There are a number of schemes in place to support this challenging target including the Greener Homes Scheme, which supports domestic renewable heating, the Renewable Heat Deployment Programme, which is aimed at institutional, industrial and retail users of heat, and the Combined Heat and Power Programme (CHP).

These Programmes have already leveraged significant amounts of investment into the market for renewable heat, which is also underpinning job creation in both the supply and services sector.

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 277: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the extent of the research undertaken into the use of bio-fuels for home heating purposes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43685/09]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin South, Green Party)
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I am not aware of any research in Ireland on the use of bio-fuel for home heating purposes. Liquid bio-fuels are being developed in the Irish Market as contributor to renewable transport fuel targets. The Government is committed to the sustainable development of the national bio-energy resource, which will in particular, be crucial to meeting the considerable challenge of delivering on the national targets for renewable heat. Funding is provided to support renewable heating in both domestic and industrial buildings, under the Greener Homes and Reheat Programmes.