Jimmy Deenihan (Kerry North, Fine Gael)
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Question 462: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the reason for the delay in implementing the REFIT since the announcement on 24 May 2010 of same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40118/10]

Jimmy Deenihan (Kerry North, Fine Gael)
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Question 463: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the timeframe for the implementation of REFIT; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40120/10]

Jimmy Deenihan (Kerry North, Fine Gael)
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Question 464: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if his attention has been drawn to the effect the delay in implementing REFIT is having on the indigenous biomass industry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40121/10]

Jimmy Deenihan (Kerry North, Fine Gael)
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Question 465: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if the REFIT tariff for co-firing miscanthus is still with his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40184/10]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin South, Green Party)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 462 to 465, inclusive, together.

In May of this year, I announced a Renewable Energy Feed In Tariff (REFIT) Scheme for electricity generated from biomass including energy crops such as miscanthus and willow, ranging from 8.5 cent per kilowatt hour to 15 cent per kilowatt hour depending on the technology deployed. State Aid Clearance from the European Commission is required before the new feed in tariffs can be implemented. My Department is currently finalising the State Aid submission together with Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland and this will be forwarded to the Commission for discussion with Commission Services this week.

My Department estimates that it will take two to three months for clearance to be finalised and approved by the European Commission. Therefore, I expect that I will be in a position to announce implementation of the tariffs in the first quarter of 2011. The announcement of the proposed REFIT Scheme has of itself been a positive development for the biomass sector, together with the support for energy crops provided by my colleague the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, and ongoing development of the demand side including the co-firing of biomass at Bord na Móna's peat generation plant at Edenderry