Thomas Pringle (Donegal South West, Independent)
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1645. To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources his plans to introduce a renewable heat incentive; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34208/14]

Alex White (Dublin South, Labour)
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I will shortly be publishing the Bioenergy Plan in draft form pending the completion of a Strategic Environmental Assessment and an Appropriate Assessment. The draft Plan sets out the broader context for the development of Ireland’s bioenergy sector and the current status with regard to the range of policy areas that must be coordinated in order to create the conditions to underpin the development of the sector. The Plan recognises that improved coordination will allow the sector to contribute to a number of policy objectives ranging from the achievement of renewable energy targets, complementing waste management policies, supporting sustainable agriculture and forestry and stimulating economic activity. The Plan also identifies the necessary next steps to be taken by various government departments, agencies and State bodies to support the sustainable development of the sector.

In terms of bioenergy's role in meeting Ireland's renewable energy targets, the draft Plan recommends the continuation of the two most significant bioenergy policies currently in place which are the REFIT schemes and the Biofuels Obligation Scheme.

Furthermore, the analysis underpinning the Plan is that an additional bioenergy-focussed measure in the heat sector represents the most cost effective means of meeting a number of different policy goals. Therefore, the Plan also recommends the introduction of a Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI) for larger heat users, who currently use oil, to change to heating solutions that produce heat from renewable sources.

The RHI scheme, once designed, will require State Aid approval from the European Commission and further Government approval. It is proposed to have the scheme in place in 2016.