Patrick O'Donovan (Limerick, Fine Gael)
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24. To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if he will provide an update on the development of policy within his Department on the use of biomass crops as a source of renewable energy; if he will provide details of the interactions he has had with the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine on this issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31294/14]

Alex White (Dublin South, Labour)
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Last week, the Government approved the publication, in draft form, of a Bioenergy Plan, which was prepared by my Department with input from a number of government departments, including the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine. The Plan identifies the opportunity for the sustainable development of Ireland's bioenergy resources and will be implemented through a number of policy and enabling actions.

The Plan recommends the continuation of the REFIT3 scheme which is designed to incentivise the addition of 310 MW of renewable electricity capacity to the Irish electricity grid. The scheme was designed, inter alia, to complement the Bioenergy Scheme by offering a premium tariff for electricity generated from energy crops. The Plan also recommends, subject to State Aid clearance and further Government approval, the introduction of a renewable heat incentive for larger heat users to change to renewable heating solutions. The introduction of such a scheme would further increase the demand for biomass.

Furthermore, the Plan also contains a range of measures to underpin the supply of Irish biomass including the continued support for the Bioenergy Scheme and the Afforestation Programme, both of which are administered by the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine.

Reflecting the cross-sectoral nature of bioenergy, implementation of the actions arising from the Plan will be coordinated by a Bioenergy Steering Group which will draw on the relevant government departments, including the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, agencies and stakeholders as appropriate.