Willie Penrose (Longford-Westmeath, Labour)
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Question 413: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will provide details of the results of the expressions of interests for large scale biomass scheme that was tendered for by Coillte in 2008; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41579/10]

Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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Coillte Teoranta was established as a private commercial company under the Forestry Act, 1988 and day-to-day operational matters, such as the use and marketing of the biomass from its forest estate, are the responsibility of the company.

I understand, however, from Coillte that, following the completion of the company's evaluation, with the assistance of independent expert energy consultants, of the proposals received, the principal conclusion drawn from the project is that the utilisation of Coillte's small diameter fibre resource by its Wood Panel Division (Coillte Panel Products) represents the optimal overall financial return to the Coillte Group, followed by the supply of fibre to small scale biomass-based process heat solutions.

Willie Penrose (Longford-Westmeath, Labour)
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Question 414: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food the steps he is taking to ensure that biomass for energy from Irish State forests will be made available for sale in large quantities and at reasonable and competitive prices to biomass energy companies; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41580/10]

Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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Coillte Teoranta was established as a private commercial company under the Forestry Act, 1988 and day-to-day operational matters, such as the sale of biomass from its forestry estate, are the responsibility of the company.

While biomass is an important source of renewable energy, it is one of a number of uses and, as such, its supply for renewable energy purposes and the associated pricing is subject to market forces.