James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
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Question 219: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the date the renewable energy feedin tariff price for co-firing in the peat power stations will be announced; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21062/10]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin South, Green Party)
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The Government has set the targets for the contribution from renewable energy sources to electricity at 40% by 2020. The 40% electricity target is consistent with the new EU target addressed to Ireland in the Renewable Energy Directive 2009/28/EC, which requires Ireland to increase the contribution from renewable sources to 16% of all energy consumed (encompassing electricity, transport and heating) by 2020.

Reflecting the need to support the development of biomass, I announced in February 2008 a Renewable Energy Feed In Tariff (REFIT) for biomass of 12 cent per kilowatt hour.

Under the auspices of the Renewable Energy Development Group, which is chaired by my Department, the Bio-energy Working Group is currently finalising a Bio-energy Road Map to 2020 which will underpin the contribution of bio-energy, including biomass to Ireland's Renewable Energy target for 2020. The Working Group is reviewing the current REFIT for the various categories of biomass, having regard to the particular challenges for the sector and I expect that work to be finalised within the next few weeks.