James Bannon (Longford-Westmeath, Fine Gael)
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To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his plans for anaerobic digestion as a means of producing electricity and providing an added income option for farmers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51195/12]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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In 2007, my Department approved grant-aid for development of ten on-farm anaerobic digesters under the National Development Plan. To date, only one of these has been drawn down and it is likely that a maximum of four or five others will come to fruition. Provision was made in my Department’s Estimates in 2012 to provide for one of these projects, but it has not as yet reached completion. Applicants, on request, are being provided with extensions until end-2013 to complete the investment works needed in order to draw down the grant-aid available.

The Deputy may be aware that the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources, Pat Rabbitte, T.D., has announced his intention to publish a National Bioenergy Strategy in the coming months. This strategy will examine all aspects of the bioenergy sector so as to inform the actions required to maximise its contribution to achieving the 2020 targets under the Renewable Energy Directive. My Department is working closely with Minister Rabbitte’s Department in assessing the potential of bioenergy from the agriculture and forestry sectors to contribute to the 2020 targets. Any decisions in relation to future developments in the bioenergy sector will be taken in the context of this exercise.

Officials from my Department have also been in contact with a number of individuals who have proposals for anaerobic digestion facilities, and will engage with them on the how these proposals might be progressed.