Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
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255. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the contacts he has had with the Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources in relation to the proposals to promote the roll out of biomass as an alternative energy source for the agriculture sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42938/14]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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Since mid-2013, officials from my Department have participated in a steering group on bioenergy strategy, chaired by the Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources (DCENR). The outcome of the discussions held by this group was the publication, earlier this year, of the Draft Bioenergy Plan. This plan is available on the DCENR website at the following address:

Biomass is defined in the Draft Bioenergy Plan as the “biodegradeable fraction of products, waste and residues of biological origin from agriculture, forestry and related industries including fisheries and aquaculture, as well as the biodegradeable fraction of industrial and municipal waste. Biomass can be used in all three energy sectors: electricity, heat, and transport”. The vast bulk of biomass in this country is, and will continue to be, provided by the forestry sector.

The Draft Bioenergy 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, a range of measures is recommended to underpin the supply of Irish biomass including continued support for the Bioenergy Scheme and the Afforestation Programme, both of which are administered by my Department. There is also scope for small-scale energy generation from, for example, pig manure and poultry litter. Research on this type of project has been funded by my Department in recent years. Grant aid has also been provided for the installation of biomass boilers to heat glasshouses and mushroom tunnels operated by horticultural producers.

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.