Nicky McFadden (Longford-Westmeath, Fine Gael)
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1192. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will provide an update on the development of 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. [37899/13]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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The formulation of policy regarding energy generation, including bioenergy, is a matter in the first instance for my colleague the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources, Pat Rabbitte, T.D.

As regards anaerobic digestion, in 2007 my Department approved grant-aid for development of ten anaerobic digesters under the National Development Plan. To date, only one of the grantees has drawn down this funding, and it is likely that a maximum of four or five others will do so – in this regard provision was made in my Department’s Estimates in 2013 for five of these projects, but none has yet been completed. Following requests from applicants, my Department has now provided an extension until end-June 2014 for completion of the investment works that are required in order to draw down the grant-aid available.

My Department is represented on a working group, chaired by the Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources (DCENR), in developing a National Bioenergy Strategy. This work is expected to be completed shortly. The strategy will take account of the potential that exists within the agriculture and forestry sectors to contribute to renewable energy targets for 2020 and beyond, including in relation to anaerobic digestion.

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