Marcella Corcoran Kennedy (Laois-Offaly, Fine Gael)
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825. To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources his plans to meet the 2020 European targets for renewable energy; if there are any plans to provide incentives for the installation of renewable energy products; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38578/13]

Pat Rabbitte (Dublin South West, Labour)
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The 2009 EU Renewable Energy Directive set Ireland a binding target whereby 16% of our energy requirements should come from renewable sources by 2020. In order to meet our overall 16% requirement, Ireland is committed to meeting 40% of electricity, 12% of heating and 10% of transport demand from renewable energy sources. There are a number of policy measures in place, designed to incentivise the development necessary to meet Ireland’s renewable energy targets. These include the Renewable Energy Feed-in Tariff (REFIT) schemes to support renewable electricity and heat generation, measures such as the Biofuel Obligation Scheme to increase the use of biofuels in the transport sector, and the Electric Vehicle Grant Scheme to incentivise the purchase of new electric vehicles. In addition, I will be publishing a bioenergy strategy later this year which will further outline the role that energy from biomass will play in contributing to the achievement of our national targets.